Bispecific Molecules That Are Immunoreactive With Immune Effector Cells That Express An Activating Receptor And An Antigen Expressed By A Cell Infected By A Virus And Uses Thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to bispecific molecules that are capable of localizing an immune effector cell that expresses an activating receptor to a virally infected cell, so as to thereby facilitate the killing of the virally infected cell. In a preferred embodiment, such localization is accomplished using bispecific molecules that are immunoreactive with an activating receptor of an immune effector cell and to an antigen expressed by a cell infected with a virus wherein the antigen is detectably present on the cell infected with the virus at a level that is greater than the level at which the antigen is detected on the virus by the bispecific molecules, and to the use of such bispecific molecules in the treatment of latent viral infections.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/908,185 (filed Jun. 22, 2020), which application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/879,056 (filed Jan. 24, 2018, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,730,947), which application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/775,041 (filed Sep. 11, 2015, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,908,938), which is a national stage application of International Application No. PCT/US2014/025491 (filed Mar. 13, 2014), which claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/783,195 (filed Mar. 14, 2013, expired), which applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties and to which priority is claimed.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING

This application includes one or more Sequence Listings pursuant to 37 C.F.R. 1.821 et seq., which are disclosed in computer-readable media (file name: Seq_Listing_ST26.txt, created Jul. 13, 2022, and having a size of 75,392 bytes), and which computer-readable media is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to bispecific molecules that are capable of localizing an immune effector cell that expresses an activating receptor to a virally infected cell, so as to thereby facilitate the killing of the virally infected cell. In a preferred embodiment, such localization is accomplished using bispecific molecules that are immunoreactive both to an activating receptor of an immune effector cell and to an epitope of an antigen expressed by a cell infected with a virus. The present invention additionally concerns the use of such bispecific molecules in the treatment of latent viral infections, persistent viral infections and inactive viral infections, and the use of such bispecific molecules in methods to kill cells containing a viral genome or cell expressing a viral protein. The invention particularly concerns bispecific molecules that bind to (1) an epitope of an activating receptor of an immune effector cell and (2) an epitope of an antigen expressed by a cell infected with a virus wherein the antigen is detectably present on the cell infected by the virus at a level that is greater than the level at which the antigen is detected on the virus by the bispecific molecules and to such bispecific molecules that are capable of mediating, and more preferably enhancing, the activation and targeting of the immune effector cells to the cell infected by the virus such that the activated immune effector cells kill the cell infected by the virus.

Description of Related Art

I. Viral Infectious Disease

The last few decades have seen a revival of interest in the therapeutic potential of antibodies, and antibodies have become one of the leading classes of biotechnology-derived drugs (Chan, C. E. et al. (2009) “The Use Of Antibodies In The Treatment Of Infectious Diseases,” Singapore Med. J. 50(7):663-666). Nearly 200 antibody-based drugs have been approved for use or are under development.

Such drugs hold particular promise for the treatment of infectious diseases, and most significantly, for the treatment of viral infectious diseases. Many pathogens have demonstrated a marked ability to gain resistance to conventional antimicrobial drugs (e.g., methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, extreme drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis and antimicrobial resistant Plasmodium falciparum). Other pathogens, such as HIV, influenza virus, etc. are presently not satisfactorily treatable using traditional drugs (see, Beigel, J. et al. (2008) “Current And Future Antiviral Therapy Of Severe Seasonal And Avian Influenza,” Antiviral Res. 78(1):91-102). Moreover, such drugs exhibit significant side effects. In contrast to traditional drugs, antibodies have two properties that make them highly attractive as therapeutic agents. First, since antibodies are endogenous proteins native to the body, they exhibit low toxicity. Second, they exhibit high specificity, which enables the directed targeting of infected cells.

However, present immunotherapy has certain drawbacks (Chan, C. E. et al. (2009) “The Use Of Antibodies In The Treatment Of Infectious Diseases,” Singapore Med. J. 50(7):663-666). The clearance of a viral infection is usually associated with T cell-mediated adaptive immunity. CD8⁺ T cells act by killing virally-infected cells, thus preventing viral replication and reducing the viral load. In addition, antibodies can promote the killing of infected cells expressing viral proteins on their surface through the activation of natural killer (NK) cells that mediate ADCC, in addition to their viral neutralization properties. Although antibodies have been shown to be able to neutralize many viral pathogens in vitro, the extent to which antibody-mediated immunity can achieve viral clearance in vivo is unclear. Thus, neutralizing therapeutic antibodies are typically administered not to mediate clearance, but rather to suppress viral replication and viremia and give the host immune system time to develop an effective response for viral clearance. In this regard, studies have shown that the capacity of antibodies to reduce viral load correlated with the persistence of the administered antibody in serum, and that viral antigen levels eventually recovered once antibody levels in the serum had declined following the cessation of therapy (Galun, E. et al. (2002) “Clinical Evaluation (Phase I) Of A Combination Of Two Human Monoclonal Antibodies To HBV: Safety And Antiviral Properties,” Hepatology 35:673-679; Heijtink, R. A. et al. (2001) “Administration Of A Human Monoclonal Antibody (TUVIRUMAB) To Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Pre-Treated With Lamivudine: Monitoring Of Serum TUVIRUMAB In Immune Complexes,” J. Med. Virol. 64:427-434). Additionally, studies with HIV have shown that the regular administration of therapeutic antibodies may lead to the development of escape mutants (Chan, C. E. et al. (2009) “The Use Of Antibodies In The Treatment Of Infectious Diseases,” Singapore Med. J. 50(7):663-666). In one study, a combination of three broadly neutralizing HIV antibodies administered over a period of 12 weeks succeeded in delaying viral rebound after the cessation of antiviral treatment, relative to controls. However, viral levels eventually recovered despite the continued administration of all three antibodies, with increased resistance to one of the three administered antibodies (Trkola, A. et al. (2005) “Delay Of HIV-1 Rebound After Cessation Of Antiretroviral Therapy Through Passive Transfer Of Human Neutralizing Antibodies,” Nat. Med. 11:615-622).

II. Immune System Activation

CD4+T-lymphocytes are the essential organizers of most mammalian immune and autoimmune responses (Dong, C. et al. (2003) “Immune Regulation by Novel Costimulatory Molecules,” Immunolog. Res. 28(1):39-48). The activation of CD4+ helper T-cells has been found to be mediated through co-stimulatory interactions between Antigen Presenting Cells and naive CD4+T-lymphocytes. Two interactions are required (Viglietta, V. et al. (2007) “Modulating Co-Stimulation,” Neurotherapeutics 4:666-675; Korman, A. J. et al. (2007) “Checkpoint Blockade in Cancer Immunotherapy,” Adv. Immunol. 90:297-339). In the first interaction, an Antigen Presenting Cell must display the relevant target antigen bound to the cell's major histocompatibility complex so that it can bind to the T-cell Receptor (“TCR”) of a naive CD4+T-lymphocyte. In the second interaction, a ligand of the Antigen Presenting Cell must bind to a CD28 receptor of the CD4+T-lymphocyte (Dong, C. et al. (2003) “Immune Regulation by Novel Costimulatory Molecules,” Immunolog. Res. 28(1):39-48; Lindley, P. S. et al. (2009) “The Clinical Utility Of Inhibiting CD28-Mediated Costimulation,” Immunol. Rev. 229:307-321). CD4+ helper T-cells experiencing both stimulatory signals are then capable of responding to cytokines (such as Interleukin-2 and Interleukin-12) to develop into Th1 cells. Such cells produce interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), which mediate inflammatory responses to target cells expressing the target antigen. B-cell activation and proliferation also occurs, resulting in antibody production specific for the target antigen (Bernard, A. et al. (2005) “T and B Cell Cooperation: A Dance of Life and Death,” Transplantation 79:S8-S11). In the absence of both co-stimulatory signals during TCR engagement, T cells enter a functionally unresponsive state, referred to as clonal anergy (Khawli, L. A. et al. (2008) “Cytokine, Chemokine, and Co-Stimulatory Fusion Proteins for the Immunotherapy of Solid Tumors,” Exper. Pharmacol. 181:291-328). In pathologic states, Th1 cells are the key players of various organ-specific autoimmune diseases, such as type I diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis (Dong, C. et al. (2003) “Immune Regulation by Novel Costimulatory Molecules,” Immunolog. Res. 28(1):39-48).

III. Therapeutic Antibodies

In addition to their known uses in diagnostics, antibodies have been shown to be useful as therapeutic agents. For example, immunotherapy, or the use of antibodies for therapeutic purposes, has been used in recent years to treat infectious disease. Passive immunotherapy involves the use of monoclonal antibodies to treat infection (see for example, Ian Gust, A. O. (Epub 2012 Feb. 21) “Role Of Passive Immunotherapies In Managing Infectious Outbreaks,” Biologicals 40(3):196-199; Wang, D. et al. (2011) “Palivizumab For Immunoprophylaxis Of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Bronchiolitis In High Risk Infants And Young Children: A Systematic Review And Additional Economic Modelling Of Subgroup Analyses,” Health Technol. Assess. 15(5):iii-iv, 1-124; Rosenberg, H. F. et al. (2012) “Inflammatory Responses To Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection And The Development Of Immunomodulatory Pharmacotherapeutics,” Curr. Med. Chem. 19(10):1424-1431). These antibodies can have inherent therapeutic biological activity both by direct binding to the infectious agents (e.g., viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc.) and by their ability to bind to host cells that have been infected with such agents and which have expressed agent-specific antigens on their cell surfaces. These agents can be administered alone or in conjunction with other anti-infective agents (e.g., antibiotics, anti-inflammatory agents, anti-pyretic agents, etc.). Palivizumab, approved for treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis, and tefibazumab (in clinical trials for the treatment of S. aureus infections) are examples of such therapeutics. Alternatively, antibodies can be used to make antibody conjugates in which the antibody is linked to a toxic agent and directs that agent to the tumor by specifically binding to the tumor. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin is an example of an approved antibody conjugate used for the treatment of leukemia in human patients.

Monoclonal antibodies that bind to virally-infected cells and have potential uses for diagnosis and therapy have been disclosed (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,313,746; 7,507,797; US 2012/0283438; US 2012/0128669; US 2012/0093834; US 2011/0319871; US 2011/0212076; US 2011/0076268; US 2011/0033389; US 2010/0040635; US 2010/0040601; US 2009/0162353; EP 1670826; WO 2011/085289; Oleksiewicz, M. B. et al. (Epub 2012 Jun. 13) “Anti-Bacterial Monoclonal Antibodies: Back To The Future?” Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 526(2):124-131; Huang, J. X. et al. (Epub 2012 Jun. 4) “Development Of Anti-Infectives Using Phage Display: Biological Agents Against Bacteria, Viruses, And Parasites,” Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 56(9):4569-4582; Ian Gust, A. O. (Epub 2012 Feb. 21) “Role Of Passive Immunotherapies In Managing Infectious Outbreaks,” Biologicals 40(3): 196-199; Geevarghese, B. et al. (Epub 2012 Feb. 3) “Antibodies For Prevention And Treatment Of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections In Children,” Antivir. Ther. 17(1 Pt B):201-211; Rosenberg, H. F. et al. (2012) “Inflammatory Responses To Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection And The Development Of Immunomodulatory Pharmacotherapeutics,” Curr. Med. Chem. 19(10):1424-1431; Nossal, G. J. (2011) “Vaccines Of The Future,” Vaccine 29 Suppl 4:D111-115; Froude, J. W. et al. (2011) “Antibodies For Biodefense,” MAbs 3(6):517-527; Ter Meulen, J. (2011) “Monoclonal Antibodies In Infectious Diseases: Clinical Pipeline In 2011,” Infect. Dis. Clin. North Am. 25(4):789-802; Yamada, T. (2011) “Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies,” Keio J. Med. 60(2):37-46; Berry, J. D. et al. (2011) “Antibodies In Infectious Diseases: Polyclonals, Monoclonals And Niche Biotechnology,” Nature Biotechnol. 28(5):489-501; Whaley, K. J. et al. (2011) “Emerging Antibody Products And Nicotiana Manufacturing,” Hum. Vaccin. 7(3):349-356; Beasley, D. W. (2011) “Vaccines And Immunotherapeutics For The Prevention And Treatment Of Infections With West Nile Virus,” Immunotherapy 3(2):269-285; Wang, D. et al. (2011) “Palivizumab For Immunoprophylaxis Of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Bronchiolitis In High-Risk Infants And Young Children: A Systematic Review And Additional Economic Modelling Of Subgroup Analyses,” Health Technol. Assess. 15(5):iii-iv, 1-124; Li, L. et al. (2010) “Immunotherapy For Prion Diseases: Opportunities And Obstacles,” Immunotherapy 2(2):269-282; Niebecker, R. et al. (2010) “Safety Of Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies,” Curr. Drug. Saf. 5(4):275-286; Hansel, T. T. et al. (2010) “The Safety And Side Effects Of Monoclonal Antibodies,” Nat. Rev. Drug Discov. 9(4):325-338; Chan, C. E. et al. (2009) “The Use Of Antibodies In The Treatment Of Infectious Diseases,” Singapore Med. J. 50(7):663-673; Beigel, J. et al. (2008) “Current And Future Antiviral Therapy Of Severe Seasonal And Avian Influenza,” Antiviral Res. 78(1):91-102; Huber, M. et al. (2008) “Antibodies For HIV Treatment And Prevention: Window Of Opportunity?” Curr. Top. Microbiol. Immunol. 317:39-66; ter Meulen, J. (2007) “Monoclonal Antibodies For Prophylaxis And Therapy Of Infectious Diseases,” Expert Opin. Emerg. Drugs. 12(4):525-540).

An ideal therapeutic and/or diagnostic antibody would be specific for an antigen present on infected cells, but absent or present only at low levels on any normal tissue. The discovery, characterization, and isolation of a novel antibody capable of binding to an antigen present on infected cells that is specifically associated with an infectious disease, and particularly a viral disease, would be useful in many ways. First, the antibody would have biological activity against such cells and be able to recruit the immune system's response to thereby treat the disease. The antibody could be administered as a therapeutic alone or in combination with current treatments or used to prepare immunoconjugates linked to toxic agents. An antibody with the same specificity but with low or no biological activity when administered alone could also be useful in that an antibody could be used to prepare an immunoconjugate with a radioisotope, a toxin, or a chemotherapeutic agent or liposome containing a chemotherapeutic agent, with the conjugated form being biologically active by virtue of the antibody directing the toxin to the antigen-containing cells.

One aspect desirable for an ideal therapeutic and/or diagnostic antibody would be the discovery and characterization of novel antibodies capable of mediating, and particularly of enhancing the activation of the immune system against infected cells (and especially against virally infected cells) that are associated with any of a variety of viral diseases.

Despite all prior advances, a need remains for improved compositions capable of binding to cells infected with a virus and of facilitating or mediating an immune response against the virally-infected cells. In addition, a need remains for improved compositions capable of detecting such virally-infected cells. It is an object of this invention to identify such compositions. It is another object to provide novel compounds for use in the detection of antigens expressed on the surface of virally-infected cells.

As described in detail below, the present invention relates to bispecific molecules that bind to 1) an epitope of an activating receptor of an immune effector cell and 2) an epitope of an antigen expressed by a cell infected with a virus and that such bispecific molecules are capable of mediating, and more preferably enhancing, the activation and targeting of the immune effector cells to the virally-infected cells expressing the epitope such that the activated immune effector cells kill the virally-infected cells.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate the structures and domains of the bispecific molecules of the present invention. FIG. 1A depicts a two polypeptide chain bispecific diabody having epitope binding domains A-D and additional domains E and F. FIG. 1B depicts a two polypeptide chain bispecific diabody having E coil and K coil domains. FIG. 1C depicts a three polypeptide chain bispecific diabody having an Fc domain that forms through the association of two CH2-CH3 domains.

FIG. 2 shows cytotoxic lymphocyte activity mediated by a bispecific diabody comprising the anti-CD16 epitope binding domains of antibody h3G8 and the anti-HIV env epitope binding domains of antibody 7B2 on gp140-expressing HEK 293 D375 cells (92Th023, subtype AE, RS-tropic) after 24 hours of incubation in the presence of natural killer (NK) at an Effector: Target ratio of 5:1. The natural killer (NK) cells were purified by positive selection (D56678 (LDH)). A bispecific diabody comprising the anti-fluorescein epitope binding domains of antibody 4-4-20 and the anti-HIV env epitope binding domains of antibody 7B2 was used as a control.

FIG. 3 shows cytotoxic lymphocyte activity mediated by a bispecific diabody comprising the anti-CD16 epitope binding domains of antibody h3G8 and the anti-HIV env epitope binding domains of antibody 7B2 on gp140-expressing HEK 293 D375 cells (92Th023, subtype AE, RS-tropic) after 24 hours of incubation in the presence of natural killer (NK) at an Effector: Target ratio of 5:1. The natural killer (NK) cells were purified by negative selection (D55386 (LDH)). As expected (since NK cells lack CD3), a bispecific diabody comprising the anti-CD3 epitope binding domains of antibody hAntibody 2 and the anti-HIV env epitope binding domains of antibody 7B2 fail to show cytotoxic lymphocyte activity. A bispecific diabody comprising the anti-fluorescein epitope binding domains of antibody 4-4-20 and the anti-CD16 epitope binding domains of antibody h3G8 was used as a control.

FIG. 4 shows cytotoxic lymphocyte activity mediated by a bispecific diabody comprising the anti-CD16 epitope binding domains of antibody h3G8 and the anti-HIV env epitope binding domains of antibody 7B2 on HIV gp140-expressing HEK 293 D371 cells (CM244, subtype AE, RS-tropic) after 24 hours of incubation in the presence of natural killer (NK) at an Effector: Target ratio of 5:1. The natural killer (NK) cells were purified by negative selection (D55386 (LDH)). As expected (since NK cells lack CD3), a bispecific diabody comprising the anti-CD3 epitope binding domains of antibody hAntibody 2 and the anti-HIV env epitope binding domains of antibody 7B2 fail to show cytotoxic lymphocyte activity. A bispecific diabody comprising the anti-fluorescein epitope binding domains of antibody 4-4-20 and the anti-CD16 epitope binding domains of antibody h3G8 was used as a control.

FIG. 5 shows the ability of bispecific diabodies comprising the anti-CD3 epitope binding domains of antibody hAntibody 2 and either the anti-HIV gp120 epitope binding domains of antibody A32 or the anti-HIV env epitope binding domains of antibody 7B2 to facilitate redirected CD8-mediated killing of HIV env-expressing Jurkat 522 FY cells in the presence of pan T cells (D54670). Cells were incubated for 24 hours. The Effector: Target ratio was 5:1. A bispecific diabody comprising the anti-RSV F Protein epitope binding domains of Palivizumab and the anti-CD3 epitope binding domains of antibody hAntibody 2 was used as a control.

FIG. 6 shows the ability of bispecific diabodies comprising the anti-CD3 epitope binding domains of antibody hAntibody 2 and either the anti-HIV gp120 epitope binding domains of antibody A32 or the anti-HIV env epitope binding domains of antibody 7B2 to facilitate redirected CD8-mediated killing of HIV gp140-expressing HEK 293 D375 cells (92Th023 gp140) after 24 hours of incubation in the presence of pan T cells (D47239) at an Effector: Target ratio of 10:1. A bispecific diabody comprising the anti-HIV env epitope binding domains of antibody 7B2 and the anti-fluorescein epitope binding domains of antibody 4-4-20 was used as a control.

FIG. 7 shows the ability of bispecific diabodies comprising the anti-CD3 epitope binding domains of antibody hAntibody 2 and either the anti-HIV gp120 epitope binding domains of antibody A32 or the anti-HIV env epitope binding domains of antibody 7B2 to facilitate redirected CD8-mediated killing of HIV gp140-expressing HEK 293 D371 cells (CM244, subtype AE, R5-tropic) in the presence of pan T cells (D47239). The Effector: Target ratio was 10:1. A bispecific diabody comprising the anti-HIV env epitope binding domains of antibody 7B2 and the anti-fluorescein epitope binding domains of antibody 4-4-20 was used as a control.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to bispecific molecules that are capable of localizing an immune effector cell that expresses an activating receptor to a virally infected cell, so as to thereby facilitate the killing of the virally infected cell. In a preferred embodiment, such localization is accomplished using bispecific molecules that are immunoreactive both to an activating receptor of an immune effector cell and to an epitope of an antigen expressed by a cell infected with a virus. The present invention additionally concerns the use of such bispecific molecules in the treatment of latent viral infections, persistent viral infections and inactive viral infections, and the use of such bispecific molecules in methods to kill cells containing a viral genome or cell expressing a viral protein. The invention particularly concerns bispecific molecules that bind to (1) an epitope of an activating receptor of an immune effector cell and (2) an epitope of an antigen expressed by a cell infected with a virus wherein the antigen is detectably present on the cell infected by the virus at a level that is greater than the level at which the antigen is detected on the virus by the bispecific molecules and to such bispecific molecules that are capable of mediating, and more preferably enhancing, the activation and targeting of the immune effector cells to the cell infected by the virus such that the activated immune effector cells kill the cell infected by the virus.

In detail, the invention concerns a bispecific molecule comprising:

-   -   (A) a first epitope-binding domain, the first epitope-binding         domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to an epitope         of a protein expressed on the surface of an immune effector         cell, wherein the immune effector cell expresses an activating         receptor, and     -   (B) a second epitope-binding domain, the second epitope-binding         domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to an epitope         of an antigen expressed by a cell infected with a virus; wherein         the antigen is detectably present on the cell infected by the         virus at a level that is greater than the level at which the         antigen is detected on the virus by the bispecific molecule.

The invention further concerns the embodiment of such bispecific molecule, wherein the first epitope-binding domain binds an activating receptor of the effector cell.

The invention further concerns any of the above-described bispecific molecules, wherein the effector cell is a T-cell, a CD4+ T-cell, a CD8+ T-cell, a natural killer cell, a macrophage, a granulocyte, or a dendritic cell.

The invention further concerns any of the above-described bispecific molecules, wherein the virus is Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex virus type 1, herpes simplex virus type 2, cytomegalovirus, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human papilloma virus or influenza virus.

The invention further concerns any of the above-described bispecific molecules, wherein the cell is latently infected with the virus.

The invention further concerns any of the above-described bispecific molecules, wherein the antigen expressed by the cell infected with the virus is selected from the group consisting of LMP-1, LMP-2, influenza M2 protein, HIV env protein, HPV E6 and HPV E7.

The invention further concerns any of the above-described bispecific molecules, wherein the antigen expressed by the cell infected with the virus is detectably present on the cell and is not detected on the virus by the bispecific molecule.

The invention further concerns any of the above-described bispecific molecules, wherein the epitope on the effector cell is a CD3 epitope, a CD4 epitope, a CD8 epitope, a CD2 epitope, a CD16 epitope, or an NKG2D epitope.

The invention further concerns any of the above-described bispecific molecules, wherein the first antigen binding domain is an antigen binding domain from a CD3 antibody, a CD4 antibody, a CD8 antibody, a CD2 antibody, a CD16 antibody, or an NKG2D antibody.

The invention further concerns any of the above-described bispecific molecules, wherein the antigen expressed by the cell infected with the virus is detectably present on the cell at a level that is at least 2 times greater than the level, if any, at which the antigen is detected on the virus by the bispecific molecule.

The invention further concerns any of the above-described bispecific molecules, wherein the antigen expressed by the cell infected with the virus is detectably present on the cell at a level that is at least 5 times greater than the level, if any, at which the antigen is detected on the virus by the bispecific molecule.

The invention further concerns any of the above-described bispecific molecules, wherein the antigen expressed by the cell infected with the virus is detectably present on the cell at a level that is at least 10 times greater than the level, if any, at which the antigen is detected on the virus by the bispecific molecule.

The invention further concerns any of the above-described bispecific molecules, wherein the antigen expressed by the cell infected with the virus is detectably present on the cell at a level that is at least 100 times greater than the level, if any, at which the antigen is detected on the virus by the bispecific molecule.

The invention further concerns any of the above-described bispecific molecules, wherein the antigen is detectably present on the cell infected by the virus at a level that is greater than the level at which the antigen is detected by the bispecific molecule on a cell that is not infected by the virus.

The invention further concerns any of the above-described bispecific molecules, wherein the antigen is detectably present on the cell infected by the virus at a level that is at least 2 times greater than the level at which the antigen is detected by the bispecific molecule on a cell that is not infected by the virus.

The invention further concerns any of the above-described bispecific molecules, wherein the antigen is detectably present on the cell infected by the virus at a level that is at least 5 times greater than the level at which the antigen is detected by the bispecific molecule on a cell that is not infected by the virus.

The invention further concerns any of the above-described bispecific molecules, wherein the antigen is detectably present on the cell infected by the virus at a level that is at least 10 times greater than the level at which the antigen is detected by the bispecific molecule on a cell that is not infected by the virus.

The invention further concerns any of the above-described bispecific molecules, wherein the antigen is detectably present on the cell infected by the virus at a level that is at least 100 times greater than the level at which the antigen is detected by the bispecific molecule on a cell that is not infected by the virus.

The invention further concerns any of the above-described bispecific molecules, wherein the antigen expressed by the cell infected with the virus is detectably present on the cell and is not detected on a cell not infected with the bispecific molecule.

The invention further concerns a pharmaceutical composition comprising a bispecific molecule and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; the bispecific molecule comprising:

-   -   (A) a first epitope-binding domain, the first epitope-binding         domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to an epitope         of a protein expressed on the surface of an immune effector         cell, wherein the immune effector cell expresses an activating         receptor of an effector cell, and     -   (B) a second epitope-binding domain, the second epitope-binding         domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to an epitope         of an antigen expressed by a cell infected with a virus; wherein         the antigen is detectably present on the cell infected by the         virus at a level that is greater than the level at which the         antigen is detected on the virus by the bispecific molecule.

The invention further concerns the embodiment of such pharmaceutical composition, wherein the first epitope-binding domain binds an activating receptor of the effector cell.

The invention further concerns a method of treating a latent virus infection in an individual in need of such treatment, the method comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a bispecific molecule to the individual, the bispecific molecule comprising:

-   -   (A) a first epitope-binding domain, the first epitope-binding         domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to a protein         expressed on the surface of an immune effector cell, wherein         said immune effector cell expresses an epitope of an activating         receptor of an effector cell, and     -   (B) a second epitope-binding domain, the second epitope-binding         domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to an epitope         of an antigen expressed by a cell infected with a virus; wherein         the antigen is detectably present on the cell infected by the         virus at a level that is greater than the level at which the         antigen is detected on the virus by the bispecific molecule.

The invention further concerns the embodiment of such method, wherein the first epitope-binding domain of the bispecific molecule binds an activating receptor of the effector cell.

The invention further concerns a method of treating a persistent virus infection in an individual in need of such treatment, the method comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a bispecific molecule to the individual, the bispecific molecule comprising:

-   -   (A) a first epitope-binding domain, the first epitope-binding         domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to a protein         expressed on the surface of an immune effector cell, wherein the         immune effector cell expresses an epitope of an activating         receptor of an effector cell, and     -   (B) a second epitope-binding domain, the second epitope-binding         domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to an epitope         of an antigen expressed by a cell infected with a virus; wherein         the antigen is detectably present on the cell infected by the         virus at a level that is greater than the level at which the         antigen is detected on the virus by the bispecific molecule.

The invention further concerns the embodiment of such method, wherein the first epitope-binding domain of the bispecific molecule binds an activating receptor of the effector cell.

The invention further concerns methods of treating an inactive virus infection in an individual in need of such treatment, the method comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a bispecific molecule to the individual, the bispecific molecule comprising:

-   -   (A) a first epitope-binding domain, the first epitope-binding         domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to a protein         expressed on the surface of an immune effector cell, wherein the         immune effector cell expresses an epitope of an activating         receptor of an effector cell, and     -   (B) a second epitope-binding domain, the second epitope-binding         domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to an epitope         of an antigen expressed by a cell infected with a virus; wherein         the antigen is detectably present on the cell infected by the         virus at a level that is greater than the level at which the         antigen is detected on the virus by the bispecific molecule.

The invention further concerns the embodiment of such method, wherein the first epitope-binding domain of the bispecific molecule binds an activating receptor of the effector cell.

The invention further concerns methods of killing a cell containing a viral genome, the method comprises the step of contacting the cell with a bispecific molecule, the bispecific molecule comprising:

-   -   (A) a first epitope-binding domain, the first epitope-binding         domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to a protein         expressed on the surface of an immune effector cell, wherein the         immune effector cell expresses an epitope of an activating         receptor of an effector cell, and     -   (B) a second epitope-binding domain, the second epitope-binding         domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to an epitope         of an antigen expressed by a cell infected with a virus; wherein         the antigen is detectably present on the cell infected by the         virus at a level that is greater than the level at which the         antigen is detected on the virus by the bispecific molecule.

The invention further concerns the embodiment of such method, wherein the first epitope-binding domain of the bispecific molecule binds an activating receptor of the effector cell.

The invention further concerns methods of killing a cell expressing a viral protein, the method comprises the step of contacting the cell with a bispecific molecule, the bispecific molecule comprising:

-   -   (A) a first epitope-binding domain, the first epitope-binding         domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to a protein         expressed on the surface of an immune effector cell, wherein the         immune effector cell expresses an epitope of an activating         receptor of an effector cell, and     -   (B) a second epitope-binding domain, the second epitope-binding         domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to an epitope         of an antigen expressed by a cell infected with a virus; wherein         the antigen is detectably present on the cell infected by the         virus at a level that is greater than the level at which the         antigen is detected on the virus by the bispecific molecule.

The invention further concerns the embodiment of such method, wherein the first epitope-binding domain of the bispecific molecule binds an activating receptor of the effector cell.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to bispecific molecules that are capable of localizing an immune effector cell that expresses an activating receptor to a virally infected cell, so as to thereby facilitate the killing of the virally infected cell. In a preferred embodiment, such localization is accomplished using bispecific molecules that are immunoreactive both to an activating receptor of an immune effector cell and to an epitope of an antigen expressed by a cell infected with a virus. The present invention additionally concerns the use of such bispecific molecules in the treatment of latent viral infections, persistent viral infections and inactive viral infections, and the use of such bispecific molecules in methods to kill cells containing a viral genome or cell expressing a viral protein. The invention particularly concerns bispecific molecules that bind to (1) an epitope of an activating receptor of an immune effector cell and (2) an epitope of an antigen expressed by a cell infected with a virus wherein the antigen is detectably present on the cell infected by the virus at a level that is greater than the level at which the antigen is detected on the virus by the bispecific molecules and to such bispecific molecules that are capable of mediating, and more preferably enhancing, the activation and targeting of the immune effector cells to the cell infected by the virus such that the activated immune effector cells kill the cell infected by the virus.

The capacity of such bispecific molecules to bind to both an activating receptor of an immune effector cell an epitope of an antigen expressed by a cell infected with a virus permits such bispecific molecules to be used in the treatment of active viral infections, latent viral infections, persistent viral infections, and inactive viral infections.

I. General Techniques

The practice of the present invention will employ, unless otherwise indicated, conventional techniques of molecular biology (including recombinant techniques), microbiology, cell biology, biochemistry and immunology, which are within the skill of the art. Such techniques are explained fully in the literature, such as, MOLECULAR CLONING: A LABORATORY MANUAL, Third Edition (Sambrook et al. Eds., 2001) Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.; OLIGONUCLEOTIDE SYNTHESIS: METHODS AND APPLICATIONS (Methods in Molecular Biology), Herdewijn, P., Ed., Humana Press, Totowa, N.J.; OLIGONUCLEOTIDE SYNTHESIS (Gait, M. J., Ed., 1984); METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Humana Press, Totowa, N.J.; CELL BIOLOGY: A LABORATORY NOTEBOOK (Cellis, J. E., Ed., 1998) Academic Press, New York, N.Y.; ANIMAL CELL CULTURE (Freshney, R I., Ed., 1987); INTRODUCTION TO CELL AND TISSUE CULTURE (Mather, J. P. and Roberts, P. E., Eds., 1998) Plenum Press, New York, N.Y.; CELL AND TISSUE CULTURE: LABORATORY PROCEDURES (Doyle, A. et al., Eds., 1993-8) John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken, N.J.; METHODS IN ENZYMOLOGY (Academic Press, Inc.) New York, N.Y.; WEIR'S HANDBOOK OF EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY (Herzenberg, L. A. et al. Eds. 1997) Wiley-Blackwell Publishers, New York, N.Y.; GENE TRANSFER VECTORS FOR MAMMALIAN CELLS (Miller, J. M. et al. Eds., 1987) Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.; CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (Ausubel, F. M. et al., Eds., 1987) Greene Pub. Associates, New York, N.Y.; PCR: THE POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION, (Mullis, K. et al., Eds., 1994) Birkhäuser, Boston Mass.; CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN IMMUNOLOGY (Coligan, J. E. et al., eds., 1991) John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken, N.J.; SHORT PROTOCOLS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (John Wiley and Sons, 1999) Hoboken, N.J.; IMMUNOBIOLOGY 7 (Janeway, C. A. et al. 2007) Garland Science, London, UK; Antibodies (P. Finch, 1997) Stride Publications, Devoran, UK; ANTIBODIES: A PRACTICAL APPROACH (D. Catty., ed., 1989) Oxford University Press, USA, New York N.Y.); MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES: A PRACTICAL APPROACH (Shepherd, P. et al. Eds., 2000) Oxford University Press, USA, New York N.Y.; USING ANTIBODIES: A LABORATORY MANUAL (Harlow, E. et al. Eds., 1998) Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.; THE ANTIBODIES (Zanetti, M. et al. Eds. 1995) Harwood Academic Publishers, London, UK); and DEVITA, HELLMAN, AND ROSENBERG'S CANCER: PRINCIPLES & PRACTICE OF ONCOLOGY, EIGHTH EDITION, DeVita, V. et al. Eds. 2008, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, Pa.

II. Definitions

As used herein, an “antibody” is an immunoglobulin molecule capable of specific binding to a target, such as a carbohydrate, polynucleotide, lipid, polypeptide, etc., through at least one antigen recognition site, located in the variable region of the immunoglobulin molecule. As used herein, the term encompasses not only intact polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies, but also mutants thereof, naturally occurring variants, fusion proteins comprising an antibody portion with an antigen recognition site of the required specificity, humanized antibodies, and chimeric antibodies, and any other modified configuration of the immunoglobulin molecule that comprises an antigen recognition site of the required specificity. Throughout this application, the numbering of amino acid residues of the light and heavy chains of antibodies is according to the EU index as in Kabat et al. (1992) SEQUENCES OF PROTEINS OF IMMUNOLOGICAL INTEREST, National Institutes of Health Publication No. 91-3242. As used herein, an “antigen binding fragment of an antibody” is a portion of an antibody that possesses an at least one antigen recognition site. As used herein, the term encompasses fragments (such as Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)₂ Fv), and single chain (scFv).

The term “monoclonal antibody” refers to a homogeneous antibody population wherein the monoclonal antibody is comprised of amino acids (naturally occurring and non-naturally occurring) that are involved in the selective binding of an antigen. Monoclonal antibodies are highly specific, being directed against a single antigenic site. The term “monoclonal antibody” encompasses not only intact monoclonal antibodies and full-length monoclonal antibodies, but also fragments thereof (such as Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)₂ Fv), single chain (scFv), mutants thereof, fusion proteins comprising an antibody portion, humanized monoclonal antibodies, chimeric monoclonal antibodies, and any other modified configuration of the immunoglobulin molecule that comprises an antigen recognition site of the required specificity and the ability to bind to an antigen. It is not intended to be limited as regards to the source of the antibody or the manner in which it is made (e.g., by hybridoma, phage selection, recombinant expression, transgenic animals, etc.). The term includes whole immunoglobulins as well as the fragments etc. described above under the definition of “antibody.”

The term “chimeric antibody” refers to a chimeric molecule, generally prepared using recombinant techniques, having a variable region derived from an immunoglobulin from a non-human species and the remaining immunoglobulin structure of the molecule based upon the structure and/or sequence of a human immunoglobulin.

The term “humanized antibody” refer to a molecule, generally prepared using recombinant techniques, having an antigen binding site derived from an immunoglobulin from a non-human species and the remaining immunoglobulin structure of the molecule based upon the structure and/or sequence of a human immunoglobulin. The antigen-binding site may comprise either complete variable domains fused onto constant domains or only the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) grafted onto appropriate framework regions in the variable domains. Antigen binding sites may be wild type or modified by one or more amino acid substitutions. This eliminates the constant region as an immunogen in human individuals, but the possibility of an immune response to the foreign variable region remains (LoBuglio, A. F. et al. (1989) “Mouse/Human Chimeric Monoclonal Antibody In Man: Kinetics And Immune Response,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (U.S.A.) 86:4220-4224). Another approach focuses not only on providing human-derived constant regions, but modifying the variable regions as well so as to reshape them as closely as possible to human form. It is known that the variable regions of both heavy and light chains contain three complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) which vary in response to the antigens in question and determine binding capability, flanked by four framework regions (FRs) which are relatively conserved in a given species and which putatively provide a scaffolding for the CDRs. When non-human antibodies are prepared with respect to a particular antigen, the variable regions can be “reshaped” or “humanized” by grafting CDRs derived from non-human antibody on the FRs present in the human antibody to be modified. Application of this approach to various antibodies has been reported by Sato, K. et al. (1993) Cancer Res 53:851-856. Riechmann, L. et al. (1988) “Reshaping Human Antibodies for Therapy,” Nature 332:323-327; Verhoeyen, M. et al. (1988) “Reshaping Human Antibodies: Grafting An Antilysozyme Activity,” Science 239:1534-1536; Kettleborough, C. A. et al. (1991) “Humanization Of A Mouse Monoclonal Antibody By CDR-Grafting: The Importance Of Framework Residues On Loop Conformation,” Protein Engineering 4:773-3783; Maeda, H. et al. (1991) “Construction Of Reshaped Human Antibodies With HIV-Neutralizing Activity,” Human Antibodies Hybridoma 2:124-134; Gorman, S. D. et al. (1991) “Reshaping A Therapeutic CD4 Antibody,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (U.S.A.) 88:4181-4185; Tempest, P. R. et al. (1991) “Reshaping A Human Monoclonal Antibody To Inhibit Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in vivo,” Bio/Technology 9:266-271; Co, M. S. et al. (1991) “Humanized Antibodies For Antiviral Therapy,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (U.S.A.) 88:2869-2873; Carter, P. et al. (1992) “Humanization Of An Anti-p185her2 Antibody For Human Cancer Therapy,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (U.S.A.) 89:4285-4289; and Co, M. S. et al. (1992) “Chimeric And Humanized Antibodies With Specificity For The CD33 Antigen,” J. Immunol. 148:1149-1154. In some embodiments, humanized antibodies preserve all CDR sequences (for example, a humanized mouse antibody which contains all six CDRs from the mouse antibodies). In other embodiments, humanized antibodies have one or more CDRs (one, two, three, four, five, or six) which are altered with respect to the original antibody, which are also termed one or more CDRs “derived from” one or more CDRs from the original antibody.

The term “BiTEs” (bi-specific T-cell engagers) refers to a single polypeptide chain molecule having two antigen binding domains, one of which binds to a T-cell antigen and the second of which binds to an antigen present on the surface of a target cell (WO 05/061547; Baeuerle, P et al. (2008) “BiTE: A New Class Of Antibodies That Recruit T Cells,” Drugs of the Future 33: 137-147; Bargou, et al. 2008) “Tumor Regression in Cancer Patients by Very Low Doses of a T Cell-Engaging Antibody,” Science 321: 974-977).

The term “diabody” refers to a molecule that comprises at least two polypeptide chains that preferably associate through a covalent interaction to form at least two epitope binding sites, which may recognize the same or different epitopes. Each of the polypeptide chains of a diabody comprises an immunoglobulin light chain variable region and an immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region, but these regions do not interact to form an epitope binding site. Rather, the immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region of one (e.g., the first) of the diabody polypeptide chains interacts with the immunoglobulin light chain variable region of a different (e.g., the second) diabody polypeptide chain to form an epitope binding site. Similarly, the immunoglobulin light chain variable region of one (e.g., the first) of the diabody polypeptide chains interacts with the immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region of a different (e.g., the second) diabody polypeptide chain to form an epitope binding site. Diabodies may be monospecific, bispecific, trispecific, etc., thus being able to simultaneously bind one, two, three or more different epitopes (which may be of the same or of different antigens). Diabodies may additionally be monovalent, bivalent, trivalent, tetravalent, pentavalent, hexavelent, etc., thus being able to simultaneously bind one, two, three, four, five, six or more molecules. These two attributes of diabodies (i.e., degree of specificity and valency may be combined, for example to produce bispecific antibodies (i.e., capable of binding two epitopes) that are tetravalent (i.e., capable of binding four sets of epitopes), etc. Diabody molecules are disclosed in PCT Publications WO 2006/113665, WO 2008/157379 and WO 2010/080538.

As used herein, an antibody or a polypeptide is said to “specifically” bind a region of another molecule (i.e., an epitope) if it reacts or associates more frequently, more rapidly, with greater duration and/or with greater affinity with that epitope relative to alternative epitopes. For example, an antibody that specifically binds to a viral epitope is an antibody that binds this viral epitope with greater affinity, avidity, more readily, and/or with greater duration than it binds to other viral epitopes or non-viral epitopes. It is also understood by reading this definition that, for example, an antibody (or moiety or epitope) that specifically binds to a first target may or may not specifically or preferentially bind to a second target. As such, “specific binding” does not necessarily require (although it can include) exclusive binding. Generally, but not necessarily, reference to binding means “specific” binding.

As used herein, the term “immunologically active” in reference to an epitope being or “remaining immunologically active” refers to the ability of an antibody (e.g., an anti-viral antibody or an antibody that binds an activating receptor of an immune cell or a protein present on the surface of an immune effector cell that expresses such an activating receptor) to bind to the epitope under different conditions, for example, after the epitope has been subjected to reducing and denaturing conditions.

Different biological functions are associated with anti-viral antibodies, antibodies that bind an activating receptor of an immune cell, or antibodies that bind a protein present on the surface of an immune effector cell that expresses such an activating receptor, including, but not limited to one or more of: an ability to specifically bind to such viral epitope or such activating receptor (and in particular such molecules that are expressed on the surfaces of human cells, or the cells of non-human mammal; an ability to competitively inhibits preferential binding of a known anti-viral antibody or of a known antibody capable of binding to an activating receptor of an immune cell, including the ability to preferentially bind to the same epitope to which the original antibody preferentially binds; an ability to bind to a portion of a viral protein containing such epitope, or to a portion of such activating receptor of an immune cell that is exposed on the surface of a living cell in vitro or in vivo; an ability to bind to a portion of a viral protein containing such epitope, or to a portion of such activating receptor of an immune cell that is exposed on the surface of a living cell, such as but not limited to cells expressing a viral protein containing such epitope, or such activating receptor on their surface; and/or an ability to deliver a therapeutic agent or detectable marker into cells expressing such molecules on their surface. As discussed herein, polypeptides (including antibodies) of the invention may have any one or more of these characteristics, provided that they exhibit activity with respect to immune effector cells that express an activating receptor or to a virally infected cell.

As used herein, the term “agent” refers to a biological, pharmaceutical, or chemical compound. Non-limiting examples include simple or complex organic or inorganic molecule, a peptide, a protein, an oligonucleotide, an antibody, an antibody derivative, antibody fragment, a vitamin derivative, a carbohydrate, a toxin, or a chemotherapeutic compound. Various compounds can be synthesized, for example, small molecules and oligomers (e.g., oligopeptides and oligonucleotides), and synthetic organic compounds based on various core structures. In addition, various natural sources can provide compounds for screening, such as plant or animal extracts, and the like.

Agents that are employed in the methods of this invention can be randomly selected or rationally selected or designed. As used herein, an agent is said to be randomly selected when the agent is chosen without prior consideration or knowledge of the specific amino acid or other chemical moieties involved in the association of the molecule with its native binding partner(s) or known antibodies. An example of a randomly selected agent is an agent that is identified through the use and screening of a chemical library or a peptide combinatorial library.

As used herein, an agent is said to be rationally selected or designed when the agent is chosen on a non-random basis that takes into account the sequence of the target site and/or its conformation in connection with the agent's action. This invention also encompasses agents that act at the sites of interaction between such activating receptor and its native binding partner, although other ligands and their interactive sites are also encompassed within the scope of this invention, whether currently known or later identified. Agents can be rationally selected or rationally designed by utilizing the peptide sequences that make up the contact sites of the receptor/ligand and/or the receptor-antibody complex. For example, a rationally selected peptide agent can be a peptide whose amino acid sequence is identical to an epitope appearing on a viral protein or an activating receptor of an immune cell as it is exposed on the surface of a living cell in its native environment. Such an agent will reduce or block the association of the viral protein or activating receptor with antibody, or the association of such viral protein or activating receptor with its native ligand, as desired, by binding to the antibody or to the native ligand.

As used herein, the term “labeled,” with regard to an antibody, is intended to encompass direct labeling of the antibody by coupling (i.e., physically linking) a detectable substance, such as a radioactive agent or a fluorophore (e.g. phycoerythrin (PE) or fluorescein isothiocyanate (also known as fluoroisothiocyanate or FITC)) to the antibody, as well as indirect labeling of the probe or antibody by reactivity with a detectable substance.

As used herein, the term “association”, with regard to an antibody, includes covalent and non-covalent attachment or binding of an agent (e.g., chemotherapeutic agent) to the antibody. The antibody can be associated with an agent (e.g., chemotherapeutic agent) by direct binding or indirect binding via attachment to a common platform, such that the antibody directs the localization of the agent to the infected cell to which the antibody binds and wherein the antibody and agent do not substantially dissociate under physiological conditions such that the agent is not targeted to the same infected cell to which the antibody binds or such that the agent's potency is not decreased.

The term “biological sample” encompasses a variety of sample types obtained from a companion animal that can be used in a diagnostic or monitoring assay. The definition encompasses saliva, blood and other liquid samples of biological origin, solid tissue samples such as a biopsy specimen or tissue cultures or cells derived therefrom, and the progeny thereof, for example, cells obtained from a tissue sample of an individual suspected of having a viral infection. The definition also includes samples that have been manipulated in any way after their procurement, such as by treatment with reagents, solubilization, or enrichment for certain components, such as proteins or polynucleotides, or embedding in a semi-solid or solid matrix for sectioning purposes. The term “biological sample” encompasses a clinical sample, and also includes cells in culture, cell supernatants, cell lysates, serum, plasma, biological fluid, and tissue samples.

The term “host cell” includes an individual cell or cell culture that can be or has been a recipient for vector(s) for incorporation of polynucleotide inserts. Host cells include progeny of a single host cell, and the progeny may not necessarily be completely identical (in morphology or in genomic DNA complement) to the original parent cell due to natural, accidental, or deliberate mutation. A host cell includes cells transfected in vivo with a polynucleotide(s) of this invention.

As used herein, the term “delaying development of infection” means to defer, hinder, slow, retard, stabilize, and/or postpone development of such infection. This delay can be of varying lengths of time, depending on the history of the infection and/or individual being treated. As is evident to one skilled in the art, a sufficient or significant delay can, in effect, encompass prevention, in that the individual does not develop the infection.

As used herein, an “effective amount” of a pharmaceutical composition, in one embodiment, is an amount sufficient to effect beneficial or desired results including, without limitation, clinical results such as decreasing symptoms resulting from the disease attenuating a symptom of infection (e.g., viral load, fever, pain, sepsis, etc.), increasing the quality of life of those suffering from the disease, decreasing the dose of other medications required to treat the disease, enhancing the effect of another medication such as via targeting and/or internalization, delaying the progression of the disease, and/or prolonging survival of individuals. An effective amount can be administered in one or more administrations. For purposes of this invention, an effective amount of drug, compound, or pharmaceutical composition is an amount sufficient to reduce the proliferation of (or the effect of) viral presence and to reduce and/or delay the development of the viral disease, either directly or indirectly. In some embodiments, an effective amount of a drug, compound, or pharmaceutical composition may or may not be achieved in conjunction with another drug, compound, or pharmaceutical composition. Thus, an “effective amount” may be considered in the context of administering one or more chemotherapeutic agents, and a single agent may be considered to be given in an effective amount if, in conjunction with one or more other agents, a desirable result may be or is achieved. While individual needs vary, determination of optimal ranges of effective amounts of each component is within the skill of the art. Typical dosages for antibody administration comprise one or more unit doses between 0.1- to 100 mg/kg/body weight. The preferred dosages comprise 1 to 100 mg/kg/body weight. The most preferred dosages comprise 10 mg/kg body weight to 100 mg/kg body weight. Typical doses for bispecific molecule (e.g., diabodies and BiTEs) administration comprise one or more unit doses of 0.0001 mg/kg body weight to 100 mg/kg body weight. Preferably, the dosage administered is between 0.0001 mg/kg body weight and 20 mg/kg body weight, 0.0001 mg/kg body weight and 10 mg/kg body weight, 0.0001 mg/kg body weight and 5 mg/kg body weight, 0.0001 mg/kg body weight and 2 mg/kg body weight, 0.0001 mg/kg body weight and 1 mg/kg body weight, or 0.0001 mg/kg body weight and 0.75 mg/kg/body weight.

As used herein, a nucleic acid molecule or agent, antibody, composition or cell, etc., is said to be “isolated” when that nucleic acid molecule, agent, antibody, composition, or cell, etc. is substantially separated from contaminant nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, agents, compositions, or cells, etc. naturally present in its original source.

The term “individual” refers to a vertebrate animal, preferably a mammal. Mammals include, but are not limited to, humans, farm animals, sport animals, pets, primates, mice and rats. In the most preferred embodiment, the term individual denotes a human.

The terms “polypeptide,” “oligopeptide,” “peptide” and “protein” are used interchangeably herein to refer to polymers of amino acids of any length, but especially lengths greater than 5, 10, 15, 20 or 25 amino acid residues. The polymer may be linear or branched, it may comprise modified amino acids, and it may be interrupted by non-amino acids. The terms also encompass an amino acid polymer that has been modified naturally or by intervention; for example, disulfide bond formation, glycosylation, lipidation, acetylation, phosphorylation, or any other manipulation or modification, such as conjugation with a labeling component. Also included within the definition are, for example, polypeptides containing one or more analogs of an amino acid (including, for example, unnatural amino acids, etc.), as well as other modifications known in the art. It is understood that, because the polypeptides of this invention are based upon an antibody, the polypeptides can occur as single chains or as associated chains.

Also encompassed within the scope of the invention are peptidomimetics of the bispecific molecules described herein. Such peptidomimetics include peptides wherein at least one amino acid residue is substituted with an amino acid residue that is not commonly found in nature, such as the D isomer of the amino acid or an N-alkylated species of the amino acid. In other embodiments, peptidomimetics are constructed by replacing at least one amide bond (—C(═O)—NH—) in a peptide agonist, antagonist or modulators with an amide isostere. Suitable amide isosteres include: —CH₂—NH—, —CH₂—S—, —CH₂—S(O)—, —CH₂—S(O)₂—, —CH₂—CH₂—, —CH═CH— (E or Z form), —C(═O)—CH₂—, —CH(CN)—NH—, —C(OH)—CH₂—, and —O—C(═O)—NH—. The amide bonds in a peptide agonist, antagonist or modulator that are suitable candidates for replacement with amide isosteres include bonds that are hydrolyzable by the endogenous esterases or proteases of the intended subject of peptide agonist, antagonist or modulator treatment.

As used herein, the term “substantially pure” refers to material that is at least 50% pure (i.e., free from contaminants), more preferably at least 90% pure, more preferably at least 95% pure, more preferably at least 98% pure, more preferably at least 99% pure, and most preferably greater than 99% pure.

As used herein, the term “toxin” refers to any substance, which effects an adverse response within a cell. For example, a toxin directed to an infected cell would have an adverse, sometimes deleterious effect, on the infected cell. Examples of toxins include, but are not limited to, radioisotopes, calicheamicin, and maytansinoids.

As used herein, the terms “treatment” or “treating” denote an approach for obtaining a beneficial or desired result including and preferably a beneficial or desired clinical result. Such beneficial or desired clinical results include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: reducing the proliferation of (or destroying) infected cells or other diseased cells, decreasing symptoms resulting from the disease, increasing the quality of life of those suffering from the disease, decreasing the dose of other medications required to treat the disease, delaying the progression of the disease, and/or prolonging survival of companion animal recipients.

As used herein, the term “virally-infected” refers to a cell that has been infected by a virus, and especially an adenovirus, an adeno-associated virus, a B virus (macacine herpesvirus I), a BK virus, a bunyavirus, a chikungunya virus, a cocksackie virus, a coronavirus, a cytomegalovirus, an eastern equine encephalitis virus, an ebola virus, an enterovirus, an epstein-barr virus, a hantavirus, a hepatitis A virus, a hepatitis B virus, a hepatitis C virus, a hepatitis D virus, a hepatitis E virus, a herpes simplex virus 1, a herpes simplex virus 2, a human foamy virus, a human herpes virus 3, a human herpes virus 5, a human herpes virus 6, a human herpes virus 7, a human immunodeficiency virus, a human papillomavirus, a human β-lymphotropic virus, a human T-cell leukemia virus I, a human T-cell leukemia virus II, an influenza virus, a JC virus, a JEV, a Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, a Lassa virus, a lymphocytic choriomenengitis virus, a Marburg virus, a measles virus, a mumps virus, a Nipah virus, a norovirus, a Norwalk virus, an orthoreovirus, a parainfluenza virus, a parvovirus, a poliovirus, a rabies virus, a reovirus, a respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, a Rift Valley fever virus, a rotavirus, rubella virus, a St Louis encephalitis virus, a variola major virus, a variola minor virus, a vericella-zoster virus, a West Nile virus, a western equine encephalitis virus, or a yellow fever virus.

III. Methods of Making Antibodies and Polypeptides

Methods of making monoclonal antibodies are known in the art. One method which may be employed is the method of Kohler, G. et al. (1975) “Continuous Cultures Of Fused Cells Secreting Antibody Of Predefined Specificity,” Nature 256:495-497 or a modification thereof. Typically, monoclonal antibodies are developed in mice, rats or rabbits. The antibodies are produced by immunizing mice, rats or rabbits with an immunogenic amount of cells, cell extracts, or protein preparations that contain the desired viral epitope or desired activating receptor (e.g., FcγRIIA, FcγRIIA, FcγRIIC, CD3, TCR, CD4, CD2, CD16, and NKG2D, etc.) of an immune effector cell or the protein present on the surface of an immune effector cell that expresses such an activating receptor of an immune cell that is of interest. The immunogen can be, but is not limited to, primary cells, cultured cell lines, cancerous cells, nucleic acids, or tissue. Cells used for immunization may be cultured for a period of time (e.g., at least 24 hours) prior to their use as an immunogen. Cells may be used as immunogens by themselves or in combination with a non-denaturing adjuvant, such as Ribi. In general, cells should be kept intact and preferably viable when used as immunogens. Intact cells may allow antigens to be better detected than ruptured cells by the immunized animal. Use of denaturing or harsh adjuvants, e.g., Freud's adjuvant, may rupture cells and therefore is discouraged. The immunogen may be administered multiple times at periodic intervals such as, bi weekly, or weekly, or may be administered in such a way as to maintain viability in the animal (e.g., in a tissue recombinant).

In one embodiment, monoclonal antibodies that bind to a desired viral epitope or a desired activating receptor of an immune effector cell or a protein present on the surface of an immune effector cell that expresses such an activating receptor are obtained using host cells that over-express such molecules

To monitor the antibody response, a small biological sample (e.g., blood) may be obtained from the human patient or, more preferably, a non-human mammal and tested for antibody titer against the immunogen. The spleen and/or several large lymph nodes of such non-human mammal can be removed and dissociated into single cells. If desired, the spleen cells may be screened (after removal of non-specifically adherent cells) by applying a cell suspension to a plate or to a well coated with the antigen. B-cells, expressing membrane-bound immunoglobulin specific for the antigen, will bind to the plate, and are not rinsed away with the rest of the suspension. Resulting B-cells, or all dissociated spleen cells, can then be fused with myeloma cells (e.g., X63-Ag8.653 and those from the SaIk Institute, Cell Distribution Center, San Diego, Calif.). Polyethylene glycol (PEG) may be used to fuse spleen or lymphocytes with myeloma cells to form a hybridoma. The hybridoma is then cultured in a selective medium (e.g., hypoxanthine, aminopterin, thymidine medium, otherwise known as “HAT medium”). The resulting hybridomas are then plated by limiting dilution, and are assayed for the production of antibodies that bind specifically to the immunogen, using, for example, FACS (fluorescence activated cell sorting) or immunohistochemistry (IHC) screening. The selected monoclonal antibody-secreting hybridomas are then cultured either in vitro (e.g., in tissue culture bottles or hollow fiber reactors), or in vivo (e.g., as ascites in mice).

As another alternative to the cell fusion technique, Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-immortalized B cells may be used to produce monoclonal antibodies of the subject invention. The hybridomas are expanded and subcloned, if desired, and supernatants are assayed for anti-immunogen activity by conventional assay procedures (e.g., FACS, IHC, radioimmunoassay, enzyme immunoassay, fluorescence immunoassay, etc.).

In another alternative, existing monoclonal antibodies and any other equivalent antibodies that are immunospecific for a desired viral epitope or a desired activating receptor of an immune effector cell or a protein present on the surface of an immune effector cell that expresses such an activating receptor can be sequenced and produced recombinantly by any means known in the art. In one embodiment, such an antibody is sequenced and the polynucleotide sequence is then cloned into a vector for expression or propagation. The sequence encoding the antibody of interest may be maintained in a vector in a host cell and the host cell can then be expanded and frozen for future use.

The polynucleotide sequence of such antibodies may be used for genetic manipulation to generate the bispecific molecules of the invention as well as a chimeric antibody, a humanized antibody, or a canonized antibody, to improve the affinity, or other characteristics of the antibody. The general principle in humanizing or caninizing an antibody involves retaining the basic sequence of the antigen-binding portion of the antibody, while swapping the non-human or non-canine remainder of the antibody with human antibody sequences or canine antibody sequences. There are four general steps to humanize or caninize a monoclonal antibody. These are: (1) determining the nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequence of the starting antibody light and heavy variable domains (2) designing the humanized antibody or canonized antibody, i.e., deciding which antibody framework region to use during the humanizing or canonizing process (3) the actual humanizing or canonizing methodologies/techniques and (4) the transfection and expression of the humanized antibody. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,816,567; 5,807,715; 5,866,692; and 6,331,415.

Single chain variable region fragments (“scFv”) are made by linking light and/or heavy chain variable regions by using a short linking peptide. Bird et al. (1988) (“Single-Chain Antigen-Binding Proteins,” Science 242:423-426) describes example of linking peptides which bridge approximately 3.5 nm between the carboxy terminus of one variable region and the amino terminus of the other variable region. Linkers of other sequences have been designed and used (Bird et al. (1988) “Single-Chain Antigen-Binding Proteins,” Science 242:423-426). Linkers can in turn be modified for additional functions, such as attachment of drugs or attachment to solid supports. The single chain variants can be produced either recombinantly or synthetically. For synthetic production of scFv, an automated synthesizer can be used. For recombinant production of scFv, a suitable plasmid containing polynucleotide that encodes the scFv can be introduced into a suitable host cell, either eukaryotic, such as yeast, plant, insect or mammalian cells, or prokaryotic, such as E. coli. Polynucleotides encoding the scFv of interest can be made by routine manipulations such as ligation of polynucleotides. The resultant scFv can be isolated using standard protein purification techniques known in the art.

The invention includes modifications to the bispecific molecules of the invention that do not significantly affect their properties and variants that have enhanced or decreased activity. Modification of polypeptides is routine practice in the art and need not be described in detail herein. Examples of modified polypeptides include polypeptides with conservative substitutions of amino acid residues, one or more deletions or additions of amino acids which do not significantly deleteriously change the functional activity, or use of chemical analogs. Amino acid residues which can be conservatively substituted for one another include but are not limited to: glycine/alanine; valine/isoleucine/leucine; asparagine/glutamine; aspartic acid/glutamic acid; serine/threonine; lysine/arginine; and phenylalanine/tryosine. These polypeptides also include glycosylated and nonglycosylated polypeptides, as well as polypeptides with other post-translational modifications, such as, for example, glycosylation with different sugars, acetylation, and phosphorylation. Preferably, the amino acid substitutions would be conservative, i.e., the substituted amino acid would possess similar chemical properties as that of the original amino acid. Such conservative substitutions are known in the art, and examples have been provided above. Amino acid modifications can range from changing or modifying one or more amino acids to complete redesign of a region, such as the variable region. Changes in the variable region can alter binding affinity and/or specificity. Other methods of modification include using coupling techniques known in the art, including, but not limited to, enzymatic means, oxidative substitution and chelation. Modifications can be used, for example, for attachment of labels for immunoassay, such as the attachment of radioactive moieties for radioimmunoassay. Modified polypeptides are made using established procedures in the art and can be screened using standard assays known in the art.

The invention also encompasses fusion proteins comprising one or more fragments or regions from the polypeptides and antibodies of this invention. In one embodiment, a fusion polypeptide is provided that comprises at least 10 contiguous amino acids of variable light chain region and at least 10 amino acids of variable heavy chain region. In another embodiment, the fusion polypeptide contains a heterologous immunoglobulin constant region. In another embodiment, the fusion polypeptide contains a light chain variable region and a heavy chain variable region of an antibody produced from a publicly-deposited hybridoma. For purposes of this invention, an antibody fusion protein contains one or more polypeptide domains that specifically bind to a desired viral epitope or a desired activating receptor of an immune effector cell or a protein present on the surface of an immune effector cell that expresses such an activating receptor and another amino acid sequence to which it is not attached in the native molecule, for example, a heterologous sequence or a homologous sequence from another region.

An anti-viral, anti-activating receptor, or anti-protein present on the surface of an immune effector cell that expresses such an activating receptor polypeptide, and other agonists, antagonists and modulators can be created by methods known in the art, for example, synthetically or recombinantly. One method of producing such peptide agonists, antagonists and modulators involves chemical synthesis of the polypeptide, followed by treatment under oxidizing conditions appropriate to obtain the native conformation, that is, the correct disulfide bond linkages. This can be accomplished using methodologies well known to those skilled in the art (see, e.g., Kelley, R. F. et al. (1990) In: GENETIC ENGINEERING PRINCIPLES AND METHODS, Setlow, J. K. Ed., Plenum Press, N.Y., vol. 12, pp 1-19; Stewart, J. M et al. (1984) SOLID PHASE PEPTIDE SYNTHESIS, Pierce Chemical Co., Rockford, Ill.; see also U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,105,603; 3,972,859; 3,842,067; and 3,862,925).

Polypeptides of the invention may be conveniently prepared using solid phase peptide synthesis (Merrifield, B. (1986) “Solid Phase Synthesis,” Science 232(4748):341-347; Houghten, R. A. (1985) “General Method For The Rapid Solid-Phase Synthesis Of Large Numbers Of Peptides: Specificity Of Antigen Antibody Interaction At The Level Of Individual Amino Acids,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (U.S.A.) 82(15):5131-5135; Ganesan, A. (2006) “Solid-Phase Synthesis In The Twenty-First Century,” Mini Rev. Med. Chem. 6(1):3-10).

In an alternative, antibodies may be made recombinantly and expressed using any method known in the art. Antibodies may be made recombinantly by first isolating the antibodies made from host animals, obtaining the gene sequence, and using the gene sequence to express the antibody recombinantly in host cells (e.g., CHO cells). Another method that may be employed is to express the antibody sequence in plants (e.g., tobacco) or transgenic milk. Suitable methods for expressing antibodies recombinantly in plants or milk have been disclosed (see, for example, Peeters et al. (2001) “Production Of Antibodies And Antibody Fragments In Plants,” Vaccine 19:2756; Lonberg, N. et al. (1995) “Human Antibodies From Transgenic Mice,” Int. Rev. Immunol 13:65-93; and Pollock et al. (1999) “Transgenic Milk As A Method For The Production Of Recombinant Antibodies,” J. Immunol Methods 231:147-157). Suitable methods for making derivatives of antibodies, e.g., humanized, single chain, etc. are known in the art. In another alternative, antibodies may be made recombinantly by phage display technology (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,565,332; 5,580,717; 5,733,743; 6,265,150; and Winter, G. et al. (1994) “Making Antibodies By Phage Display Technology,” Annu. Rev. Immunol. 12.433-455).

The antibodies or protein of interest may be subjected to sequencing by Edman degradation, which is well known to those of skill in the art. The peptide information generated from mass spectrometry or Edman degradation can be used to design probes or primers that are used to clone the protein of interest.

An alternative method of cloning the protein of interest is by “panning” using purified proteins or portions thereof for cells expressing the antibody or protein of interest. The “panning” procedure may be conducted by obtaining a cDNA library from tissues or cells that express or over-express the desired cDNAs in a second cell type, and screening the transfected cells of the second cell type for a specific binding to the desired protein. Detailed descriptions of the methods used in cloning mammalian genes coding for cell surface proteins by “panning” can be found in the art (see, for example, Aruffo, A. et al. (1987) “Molecular Cloning Of A CD28 cDNA By A High-Efficiency COS Cell Expression System,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (U.S.A.) 84:8573-8577 and Stephan, J. et al. (1999) “Selective Cloning Of Cell Surface Proteins Involved In Organ Development: Epithelial Glycoprotein Is Involved In Normal Epithelial Differentiation,” Endocrinol. 140:5841-5854).

cDNAs encoding antibodies, and other peptide agonists, antagonists and modulators can be obtained by reverse transcribing the mRNAs from a particular cell type according to standard methods in the art. Specifically, mRNA can be isolated using various lytic enzymes or chemical solutions according to the procedures set forth in Sambrook et al. supra or extracted by commercially available nucleic-acid-binding resins following the accompanying instructions provided by manufacturers (e.g., Qiagen, Invitrogen, Promega). The synthesized cDNAs are then introduced into an expression vector to produce the antibody or protein of interest in cells of a second type. It is implied that an expression vector must be replicable in the host cells either as episomes or as an integral part of the chromosomal DNA. Suitable expression vectors include but are not limited to plasmids, viral vectors, including adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses, retroviruses, and cosmids.

The vectors containing the polynucleotides of interest can be introduced into the host cell by any of a number of appropriate means, including electroporation, transfection employing calcium chloride, rubidium chloride, calcium phosphate, DEAE-dextran, or other substances; microprojectile bombardment; lipofection; and infection (e.g., where the vector is an infectious agent such as vaccinia virus). The choice of introducing vectors or polynucleotides will often depend on features of the host cell.

Any host cells capable of over-expressing heterologous DNAs can be used for the purpose of isolating the genes encoding the antibody, polypeptide or protein of interest. Non-limiting examples of suitable mammalian host cells include but are not limited to COS, HeLa, and CHO cells. Preferably, the host cells express the cDNAs at a level of about 5-fold higher, more preferably 10-fold higher, more preferably 20-fold higher, more preferably 50-fold higher, more preferably 100-fold higher than that of the corresponding endogenous antibody or protein of interest, if present, in the host cells. Screening the host cells for a specific binding to a desired protein is preferably effected by an immunoassay or FACS. A cell over-expressing the antibody or protein of interest can be identified in this way.

Various techniques are also available which may now be employed to produce mutant peptide agonists, antagonists, and modulators which encodes for additions, deletions, or changes in amino acid sequence of the resultant protein relative to the parent peptide agonist, antagonist or modulator molecule.

The invention includes polypeptides comprising an amino acid sequence of the antibodies of this invention. The polypeptides of this invention can be made by procedures known in the art. The polypeptides can be produced by proteolytic or other degradation of the antibodies, by recombinant methods (i.e., single or fusion polypeptides) as described above or by chemical synthesis. Polypeptides of the antibodies, especially shorter polypeptides up to about 50 amino acids, are conveniently made by chemical synthesis. Methods of chemical synthesis are known in the art and are commercially available. For example, such a polypeptide could be produced by an automated polypeptide synthesizer employing the solid phase method.

IV. Methods for Screening Polypeptides and Monoclonal Antibodies

Several methods may be used to screen polypeptides and monoclonal antibodies that bind to a desired viral epitope or a desired activating receptor of an immune effector cell or a protein present on the surface of an immune effector cell that expresses such an activating receptor. It is understood that “binding” refers to biologically or immunologically relevant specific binding, and does not refer to non-specific binding that may occur, for example, when an immunoglobulin is used at a very high concentration against a non-specific target. In one embodiment, monoclonal antibodies are screened for binding to desired proteins or epitopes using standard screening techniques. In this manner, monoclonal antibodies may be obtained. The preferred hybridomas of the present invention that produce antibodies directed against an activating receptor of an immune effector cell are those that produce antibodies against the activating receptors: CD3, TCR, CD4, CD2, CD16, and NKG2D.

Additional monoclonal antibodies that bind to a desired activating receptor of an immune effector cell or a protein present on the surface of an immune effector cell that expresses such an activating receptor may be identified. For this purpose, monoclonal antibodies are screened for their differential ability to bind to such epitopes or proteins but not to other epitopes or proteins. One method that may be employed for screening is immunohistochemistry (IHC). Standard immunohistochemical techniques are known to those of average skill in the art. See, for example, ANIMAL CELL CULTURE METHODS (J. P. Mather and D. Barnes, eds., Academic Press, NY, Vol. 57, Ch. 18 and 19, pp. 314-350, 1998). Biological samples (e.g., tissues) may be obtained from biopsies, autopsies, or necropsies. To ascertain if an epitope is present only on the surface of an immune effector cell, antibodies that bind to potential epitopes may be used to detect immune effector cells. The tissue can be embedded in a solid or semi-solid substance that prevents damage during freezing (e.g., agarose gel or OCT) and then sectioned for staining. Tissues from different organs and at different grades can be used to screen monoclonal antibodies. Examples of tissues that may be used for screening purposes include but are not limited to ovary, breast, lung, prostate, colon, kidney, skin, thyroid, brain, heart, liver, stomach, nerve, blood vessels, bone, upper digestive tract, and pancreas.

Any of several different detection systems may be utilized to detect binding of antibodies to tissue section. Typically, immunohistochemistry involves the binding of a primary antibody to the tissue and then a secondary antibody reactive against the species from the primary antibody was generated and conjugated to a detectable marker (e.g., horseradish peroxidase, HRP, or diaminobenzedine, DAB). One alternative method that may be used is polyclonal mirror image complementary antibodies or polyMICA™ (polyclonal Mirror Image Complementary Antibodies; The Binding Site Limited, Birmingham, UK; Mangham, D. C. et al. (1999) “A Novel Immunohistochemical Detection System Using Mirror Image Complementary Antibodies (MICA),” Histopathology 35(2):129-33). The PolyMICA™ technique can be used to test binding of primary antibodies to normal and infected tissue. Several kinds of polyMICA™ Detection kits are commercially available: Product No. HK004.D is a polyMICA™ Detection kit which uses DAB chromagen; Product No. HK004. A is a polyMICA™ Detection kit which uses AEC chromagen. Alternatively, the primary antibody may be directly labeled with the detectable marker.

The first step in IHC screening to select for an appropriate antibody is the binding of primary antibodies raised in mice (e.g., anti-activating receptor antibodies) to one or more immunogens (e.g., cells or tissue samples). In one embodiment, the tissue sample is sections of frozen tissue from different organs. The cells or tissue samples can comprise either infected cells or non-infected cells.

Frozen tissues can be prepared, sectioned, with or without fixation, and IHC performed by any of a number of methods known to one familiar with the art (see, for example, Stephan et al. (1999) “Distribution And Function Of The Adhesion Molecule BEN During Rat Development,” Dev. Biol. 212:264-277 and Stephan et al. (1999) “Selective Cloning Of Cell Surface Proteins Involved In Organ Development: Epithelial Glycoprotein Is Involved In Normal Epithelial Differentiation,” Endocrinology 140:5841-5854).

V. Methods of Characterizing the Antibodies of the Present Invention

Any of several methods can be used to characterize the antibodies of the present invention. One method is to identify the epitope to which it binds. Epitope mapping is commercially available from various sources, for example, Pepscan Systems (Lelystad, The Netherlands). Epitope mapping can be used to determine the sequence to which an antibody binds. The epitope can be a linear epitope, i.e., contained in a single stretch of amino acids, or a conformational epitope formed by a three-dimensional interaction of amino acids that may not necessarily be contained in a single stretch.

Peptides of varying lengths (e.g., preferably at least 4-6 amino acids long) can be isolated or synthesized (e.g., recombinantly) and used for binding assays with an antibody. The epitope to which the antibody binds can be determined in a systematic screening by using overlapping peptides derived from the extracellular sequence and determining binding by antibody.

Yet another method that can be used to characterize an antibody of the present invention is to use competition assays with other antibodies known to bind to the same antigen, i.e., to determine if the antibodies bind to the same epitope as other antibodies. Examples of commercially available antibodies to a desired viral epitope or a desired activating receptor of an immune effector cell or a protein present on the surface of an immune effector cell that expresses such an activating receptor may be available and may be identified using the binding assays taught herein. Competition assays are well known to those of skill in the art, and such procedures and illustrative data are detailed further in the Examples. Antibodies can be further characterized by the tissues, type of virus or type of immune cell to which they bind.

As discussed above, a central aspect of antibodies of the present invention relates to their ability to bind a desired viral epitope or a desired activating receptor of an immune effector cell or a protein present on the surface of an immune effector cell that expresses such an activating receptor. Such antibodies may be readily identified by screening among human effector cell-reactive antibodies or antibodies that bind to desired viral particles. Non-limiting examples of such antibodies that bind to a desired activating receptor of an immune effector cell include anti-CD3 antibodies OKT3, M291, YTH12.5, anti-CD3 antibody 1 and anti-CD3 antibody 2; anti-TCR antibody BMA031; anti-CD8 antibody TRX2; anti-CD4 antibody TRX1; anti-CD2 antibody Lo-CD2a (ATCC Accession No: 11423); anti-CD16 antibody 3G8 and A9; anti-NKG2D antibody KYK 2.0.

VI. Preferred Compositions of the Present Invention

The present invention encompasses compositions, including pharmaceutical compositions, comprising the bispecific molecules of the invention, polypeptides derived from such bispecific molecules, polynucleotides comprising sequences encoding such bispecific molecules or polypeptides, and other agents as described herein.

With respect to antibodies that bind to a desired viral epitope, preferred antibodies include those that bind to epitopes of an adenovirus, an adeno-associated virus, a B virus (macacine herpesvirus I), a BK virus, a bunyavirus, a chikungunya virus, a cocksackie virus, a coronavirus (e.g., M protein, etc.), a cytomegalovirus, an eastern equine encephalitis virus, an ebola virus, an enterovirus, an Epstein-Barr virus (e.g., LMP-1, LMP-2, etc.), a hantavirus, a hepatitis A virus, a hepatitis B virus, a hepatitis C virus, a hepatitis D virus, a hepatitis E virus, a herpes simplex virus 1, a herpes simplex virus 2, a human foamy virus, a human herpes virus 3, a human herpes virus 5, a human herpes virus 6, a human herpes virus 7, a human immunodeficiency virus (e.g., env, etc.), a human papillomavirus (e.g., E6, E7, etc.), a human β-lymphotropic virus, a human T-cell leukemia virus I, a human T-cell leukemia virus II, an influenza virus (e.g., M2 protein, etc.), a JC virus, a JEV, a Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, a Lassa virus, a lymphocytic choriomenengitis virus, a Marburg virus, a measles virus, a mumps virus, a Nipah virus, a norovirus, a Norwalk virus, an orthoreovirus, a parainfluenza virus, a parvovirus, a poliovirus, a rabies virus, a reovirus, a respiratory syncytial virus (e.g., M protein, etc.), rhinovirus, a Rift Valley fever virus, a rotavirus, rubella virus, a St Louis encephalitis virus, a variola major virus, a variola minor virus, a vericella-zoster virus, a West Nile virus, a western equine encephalitis virus, or a yellow fever virus. Such antibodies are available commercially from a wide number of sources, or can be obtained by immunizing mice or other animals (including for the production of monoclonal antibodies) with such viruses.

With respect to antibodies that bind to a desired activating receptor of an immune effector cell, preferred antibodies include anti-CD3 antibodies OKT3, M291, YTH12.5, anti-CD3 antibody 1 and anti-CD3 antibody 2; anti-TCR Antibody BMA031; anti-CD8 antibody TRX2; anti-CD4 antibody TRX1; anti-CD2 antibody Lo-CD2a (ATCC Accession No: 11423); anti-CD16 antibody 3G8 and A9; anti-NKG2D antibody KYK 2.0. The amino acid sequences of the variable light chain and variable heavy chain of these antibodies are shown below. Those of skill in the art will therefore be able to construct bispecific molecules having such CDRs, as well as antibodies and derivatives thereof, including humanized derivatives thereof, capable of binding to the epitopes recognized by these antibodies.

Anti-CD3 Antibodies OKT3 OKT3 Light Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 1)(CDRs shown underlined): QIVLTQSPAI MSASPGEKVT MTC SASSSVS   YMN WYQQKSG TSPKRWIY DT SKLAS GVPAH FRGSGSGTSY SLTISGMEAE DAATYYC QQW   SSNPFTF GSG TKLEINR OKT3 Heavy Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 2)(CDRs shown underlined): QVQLQQSGAE LARPGASVKM SCKASGYTFT  RYTMH WVKQR PGQGLEWIG Y INPSRGYTNY   NQKFKD KATL TTDKSSSTAY MQLSSLTSED SAVYYCAR YY DDHYCL DYWG QGTTLTVSSA KTTAPSVYPL APVCGDTTGS SVTLGCLVKG YFPEPVTLTW NSGSLSSGVH TFPAVLQSDL YTLSSSVTVT SS M291 M291 Light Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 3)(CDRs shown underlined): DIVLTQSPAI MSASPGEKVT MTC SASSSVS   YMN WYQQKSG TSPKRWTY DT SKLAS GVPAR FSGSGSGTSY SLTISSMEAE DADTYYC QQW   SSNPPT FGSG TKLEIK M291 Heavy Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 4)(CDRs shown underlined): QVQLQQSGAE LARPGASVKM SCKASGYTFI  SYTMH WVKQR PGQGLEWIG Y INPRSGYTHY   NQKLKD KATL TADKSSSSAY MQLSSLTSED SAVYYCAR SA YYDYDGFAY W GQGTLVTVSA YTH12.5 YTH12.5 Light Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 5)(CDRs shown underlined): MGWSCIILFL VATATGVHSD IQLTQPNSVS TSLGSTVKLS C TLSSGNIEN NYVH WYQLYE GRSPTTMIY D   DDKRPD GVPD RFSGSIDRSS NSAFLTIHNV AIEDEAIYFC  HSYVSSFNV F GGGTKLTVLR YTH12.5 Heavy Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 6)(CDRs shown underlined): MGWSCIILFL VATATGVHSE VQLLESGGGL VQPGGSLRLS CAASGFTF SS FPMA WVRQAP GKGLEWVS TI   STSGGRTYYR DSVKG RFTIS RDNSKNTLYL QMNSLRAEDT AVYYCAK FRQ   YSGGFDY WGQ GTLVTVSS Anti-CD3 Antibody 1 Anti-CD3 Antibody 1 Light Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 7)(CDRs shown underlined):: QVVLTQSPAI MSAFPGEKVT MTC SASSSVS   YMN WYQQKSG TSPKRWIY DS SKLAS GVPAR FSGSGSGTSY SLTISSMETE DAATYYC QQW   SRNPPT FGGG TKLQITR Anti-CD3 Antibody 1 Heavy Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 8)(CDRs shown underlined):: QVQLQQSGAE LARPGASVKM SCKASGYTFT  RSTMH WVKQR PGQGLEWIG Y INPSSAYTNY   NQKFKD KATL TADKSSSTAY MQLSSLTSED SAVYYCAS PQ VHYDYNGFPY  WGQGTLVTVS S Anti-CD3 Antibody 2 Anti-CD3 Antibody 2 Light Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 9)(CDRs shown underlined): QAVVTQESAL TTSPGETVTL TC RSSTGAVT   TSNYAN WVQE KPDHLFTGLI GG TNKRAP GV PARFSGSLIG DKAALTITGA QTEDEAIYFC  ALWYSNL WVF GGGTKLTVLG Anti-CD3 Antibody 2 Heavy Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 10)(CDRs shown underlined): EVQLVESGGG LVQPKGSLKL SCAASGFTFN  TYAMN WVRQA PGKGLEWVA R IRSKYNNYAT   YYADSVKD RF TISRDDSQSI LYLQMNNLKT EDTAMYYCVR HGNFGNSYVS   WFAY WGQGTL VTVSA Anti-TCR Antibodies BMA031 BMA031 Light Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 11)(CDRs shown underlined): QIVLTQSPAI MSASPGEKVT MTCS ATSSVS   YMH WYQQKSG TSPKRWIY DT SKLAS GVPAR FSGSGSGTSY SLTISSMEAE DAATYYC QQW   SSNPLT FGAG TKLELK BMA031 Heavy Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 12)(CDRs shown underlined): EVQLQQSGPE LVKPGASVKM SC KASGYKFT   SYVMH WVKQK PGQGLEWIG Y INPYNDVTKY  NEKFKG KATL TSDKSSSTAY MELSSLTSED SAVHYCAR GS YYDYDGFVY W GQGTLVTVSA Anti-CD8 Antibodies TRX2 TRX2 Light Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 13)(CDRs shown underlined): DIQMTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITC KGSQDIN   NYLA WYQQKP GKAPKLLIY N TDILHT GVPS RFSGSGSGTD FTFTISSLQP EDIATYYC YQ YNNGYT FGOG TKVEIK TRX2 Heavy Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 14)(CDRs shown underlined): QVQLVESGGG VVQPGRSLRL SCAASGFTFS  DFGMN WVRQA PGKGLEWVA L IYYDGSNKFY   ADSVKG RFTI SRDNSKNTLY LQMNSLRAED TAVYYCAK PH YDGYYHFFDS  WGQGTLVTVSS Anti-CD4 Antibodies TRX1 TRX1 Light Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 15)(CDRs shown underlined): DIVMTQSPDS LAVSLGERAT INC KASQSVD   YDGDSYMN WY QQKPGQPPKL LIY VASNLES  GVPDRFSGSG SGTDFTLTIS SLQAEDVAVY YC QQSLQDPP T FGGGTKVEI KR TRX1 Heavy Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 16)(CDRs shown underlined): QVQLVQSGAE VKKPGASVKV SCKASGYTFT  AYVIS WVRQA PGQGLEWMG E IYPGSGSSYY   NEKFKG RVTM TRDTSTSTVY MELSSLRSED TAVYYCAR SG DGSRFVY WGQ GTLVTVSS Anti-CD2 Antibodies Lo-CD2a (ATCC Accession No: 11423) Lo-CD2a Light Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 17)(CDRs shown underlined): DVVLTQTPPT LLATIGQSVS ISC RSSQSLL   HSSGNTYLN W LLQRTGQSPQ PLIY LVSKLE   S GVPNRFSGS GSGTDFTLKI SGVEAEDLGV YYC MQFTHYP YT FGAGTKLE LK Lo-CD2a Heavy Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 18)(CDRs shown underlined): EVQLQQSGPE LQRPGASVKL SCKASGYIFT  EYYMY WVKQR PKQGLELVG R IDPEDGSIDY   VEKFKK KATL TADTSSNTAY MQLSSLTSED TATYFCAR GK FNYRFAY WGQ GTLVTVSS Anti-CD16 Antibodies 3G8 3G8 Light Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 19)(CDRs shown underlined): DTVLTQSPAS LAVSLGQRAT ISC KASQSVD   FDGDSFMN WY QQKPGQPPKL LIY TTSNLES  GIPARFSASG SGTDFTLNIH PVEEEDTATY YC QQSNEDPY T FGGGTKLEI K 3G8 Heavy Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 20)(CDRs shown underlined): QVTLKESGPG ILQPSQTLSL TCSFSGFSLR  TSGMGVG WIR QPSGKGLEWL A HIWWDDDKR   YNPALKS RLT ISKDTSSNQV FLKIASVDTA DTATYYCAQ I NPAWFAY WGQ GTLVTVSA A9 A9 Light Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 21)(CDRs shown underlined): DIQAVVTQES ALTTSPGETV TLTC RSNTGT   VTTSNYAN WV QEKPDHLFTG LIG HTNNRAP  GVPARFSGSL IGDKAALTIT GAQTEDEAIY FC ALWYNNHW V FGGGTKLTVL A9 Heavy Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 22)(CDRs shown underlined): QVQLQQSGAE LVRPGTSVKI SCKASGYTFT  NYWLG WVKQR PGHGLEWIG D IYPGGGYTNY   NEKFKG KATV TADTSSRTAY VQVRSLTSED SAVYFCAR SA SWYFD VWGAR TTVTVSS Anti-NKG2D Antibodies KYK 1.0 KYK 1.0 Light Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 23)(CDRs shown underlined): QPVLTQPSSV SVAPGETARI PC GGDDIETK   SVH WYQQKPG QAPVLVIY DD DDRPS GIPER FFGSNSGNTA TLSISRVEAG DEADYYC QVW   DDNNDEWV FG GGTQLTVL KYK 1.0 Heavy Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 24)(CDRs shown underlined): EVQLVESGGG VVQPGGSLRL SCAASGFTFS  SYGMH WVRQA PGKGLEWVA F IRYDGSNKYY   ADSVKG RFTI SRDNSKNTKY LQMNSLRAED TAVYYCAK DR FGYYLDY WGQ GTLVTVSS KYK 2.0 KYK 2.0 Light Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 25)(CDRs shown underlined): QSALTQPASV SGSPGQSITI SC SGSSSNIG   NNAVN WYQQL PGKAPKLLIY YDDLLPS GVS DRFSGSKSGT SAFLAISGLQ SEDEADYYC A   AWDDSLNGPV FGGGTKLTVL KYK 2.0 Heavy Chain Variable Region (SEQ ID NO: 26)(CDRs shown underlined): QVQLVESGGG LVKPGGSLRL SCAASGFTFS  SYGMH WVRQA PGKGLEWVA F IRYDGSNKYY   ADSVKG RFTI SRDNSKNTLY LQMNSLRAED TAVYYCAK DR GLGDGTYFDY  WGQGTTVTVS S

The invention further provides for conjugates of any antibody, agonist or antagonist that binds a desired viral epitope or a desired activating receptor of an immune effector cell or a protein present on the surface of an immune effector cell that expresses such an activating receptor.

These conjugates include agonists, antagonists or modulators covalently bound to a macromolecule such as any insoluble, solid support matrix used in the diagnostic, screening or purification procedures discussed herein. Suitable matrix materials include any substance that is chemically inert, has high porosity and has large numbers of functional groups capable of forming covalent linkages with peptide ligands. Examples of matrix materials and procedures for preparation of matrix-ligand conjugates are described in Dean et al. (Eds) AFFINITY CHROMATOGRAPHY: A PRACTICAL APPROACH, IRL Press (1985); Lowe, “An Introduction to Affinity Chromatography”, in Work et al. (Eds) LABORATORY TECHNIQUES IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Vol. 7, Part II, North-Holland (1979); Porath et al., “Biospecific Affinity Chromatography”, in Neurath, H. et al. (Eds), THE PROTEINS, 3rd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 95-178 (1975); and Schott, H. AFFINITY CHROMATOGRAPHY, Marcel Dekker, Inc. NY (1984).

The antibody, agonist or antagonist that binds a desired viral epitope or a desired activating receptor of an immune effector cell or a protein present on the surface of an immune effector cell that expresses such an activating receptor are further identified and characterized by an ability to specifically bind to molecules that are expressed on the surfaces of human and/or non-human companion animal cells, and optionally any (one or more) of the following criteria:

-   -   (a) an ability to competitively inhibit preferential binding of         a known antibody to such epitope or protein, including the         ability to preferentially bind to the same epitope to which the         original antibody preferentially binds;     -   (b) an ability to bind to a portion of such epitope or protein         that is exposed on the surfaces of living human and/or non-human         mammalian cells in vitro or in vivo;     -   (c) an ability to deliver a chemotherapeutic agent to a human         and/or non-human mammalian cell expressing such epitope or         protein on its surface; and/or     -   (f) an ability to deliver a therapeutic agent or detectable         marker into a human and/or non-human mammalian cell expressing         such epitope or protein on its surface.

The invention also provides polypeptides comprising an amino acid sequence of the antibodies of the invention. In some embodiments, the polypeptide comprises one or more of the light chain and/or heavy chain variable regions of the antibody. In some embodiments, the polypeptide comprises one or more of the light chain and/or heavy chain CDRs of the antibody. In some embodiments, the polypeptide comprises three CDRs of the light chain and/or heavy chain of the antibody. In some embodiments, the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence of the antibody that has any of the following: at least 5 contiguous amino acids of a sequence of the original antibody, at least 8 contiguous amino acids, at least about 10 contiguous amino acids, at least about 15 contiguous amino acids, at least about 20 contiguous amino acids, at least about 25 contiguous amino acids, at least about 30 contiguous amino acids, wherein at least 3 of the amino acids are from a variable region of the antibody. In one embodiment, the variable region is from a light chain of the original antibody. In another embodiment, the variable region is from a heavy chain of the antibody. In another embodiment, the 5 (or more) contiguous amino acids are from a complementarity-determining region (CDR) of the antibody.

VII. Bi-Specific Diabodies (Dual Affinity Retargeting Reagents)

As discussed above, the present invention additionally encompasses “bispecific diabody molecules (dual affinity retargeting reagent) molecules that comprise at least two polypeptide chains which form at least two epitope binding sites, at least one of which specifically binds to an epitope of a protein expressed on the surface of an immune effector cell, wherein the immune effector cell expresses an activating receptor of an effector cell, and at least one of which specifically binds to an epitope of an antigen expressed by a cell infected with a virus; wherein the antigen is detectably present on the cell infected by the virus at a level that is greater than the level at which the antigen is detected on the virus by the bispecific molecule.

In preferred embodiments (FIG. 1A), the first polypeptide chain of the diabody comprises:

-   -   (i) a domain (A) comprising a binding region of a light chain         variable domain of a first immunoglobulin (VL1) specific for an         epitope (1);     -   (ii) a domain (B) comprising a binding region of a heavy chain         variable domain of a second immunoglobulin (VH2) specific for an         epitope (2); and     -   (iii) a domain (C).

The second polypeptide chain of such a diabody comprises:

-   -   (i) a domain (D) comprising a binding region of a light chain         variable domain of the second immunoglobulin (VL2) specific for         epitope (2);     -   (ii) a domain (E) comprising a binding region of a heavy chain         variable domain of the first immunoglobulin (VH1) specific for         epitope (1); and     -   (iii) a domain (F).

Epitope (1) above can refer to an epitope of a viral protein, and epitope (2) to an epitope of an activating receptor or an epitope of a protein expressed on the surface of an immune effector cell that expresses an activating receptor. Alternatively, Epitope (1) above can refer to an epitope of an activating receptor or an epitope of a protein expressed on the surface of an immune effector cell that expresses an activating receptor, and epitope (2) to an epitope of a viral protein.

The diabody domains (A) and (B) do not associate with one another to form an epitope binding site. Similarly, the diabody domains (D) and (E) do not associate with one another to form an epitope binding site. Rather, diabody domains (A) and (E) associate to form a binding site that binds epitope (1); said diabody domains (B) and (D) associate to form a binding site that binds said epitope (2). Domains (C) and (F) are covalently associated together. Methods for forming diabody molecules and specific orientations of the diabody domains are disclosed in US Patent Publications Nos. 2010/0174053, US 2009/0060910 and US 2007/0004909.

Each polypeptide chain of the diabody molecule comprises a VL domain and a VH domain, which are covalently linked such that the domains are constrained from self-assembly. Interaction of two of the polypeptide chains will produce two VL-VH pairings, forming two epitope binding sites, i.e., a bivalent molecule. Neither the VH or VL domain is constrained to any position within the polypeptide chain, i.e., restricted to the amino (N) or carboxy (C) terminus, nor are the domains restricted in their relative positions to one another, i.e., the VL domain may be N-terminal to the VH domain and vice-versa; however, it is preferred that the VL domain may be N-terminal to the VH domain. The only restriction is that a complimentary polypeptide chain be available in order to form functional diabodies. Where the VL and VH domains are derived from the same antibody, the two complimentary polypeptide chains may be identical. For example, where the binding domains are derived from an antibody specific for epitope A (i.e., the binding domain is formed from a VL_(A)-VH_(A) interaction), each polypeptide will comprise a VH_(A) and a VL_(A). Homodimerization of two polypeptide chains of the antibody will result in the formation two VL_(A)-VH_(A) binding sites, resulting in a bivalent monospecific antibody (FIG. 1A). Where the VL and VH domains are derived from antibodies specific for different antigens, formation of a functional bispecific diabody requires the interaction of two different polypeptide chains, i.e., formation of a heterodimer. For example, for a bispecific diabody, one polypeptide chain will comprise a VL_(A) and a VL_(B); homodimerization of said chain will result in the formation of two VL_(A)-VH_(B) binding sites, either of no binding or of unpredictable binding. In contrast, where two differing polypeptide chains are free to interact, e.g., in a recombinant expression system, one comprising a VL_(A) and a VH_(B) and the other comprising a VL_(B) and a VH_(A), two differing binding sites will form: VL_(A)-VH_(A) and VL_(B)-VH_(B). For all diabody polypeptide chain pairs, the possibly of misalignment or mis-binding of the two chains is a possibility, i.e., interaction of VL-VL or VH-VH domains; however, purification of functional diabodies is easily managed based on the immunospecificity of the properly dimerized binding site using any affinity based method known in the art or exemplified herein, e.g., affinity chromatography.

One or more of the polypeptide chains of the diabody may optionally comprise an Fc domain or portion thereof (e.g. a CH2 domain, or CH3 domain). The Fc domain or portion thereof may be derived from any immunoglobulin isotype or allotype including, but not limited to, IgA, IgD, IgG, IgE and IgM. In preferred embodiments, the Fc domain (or portion thereof) is derived from IgG. In specific embodiments, the IgG isotype is IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 or IgG4 or an allotype thereof. In one embodiment, the diabody molecule comprises an Fc domain, which Fc domain comprises a CH2 domain and CH3 domain independently selected from any immunoglobulin isotype (i.e. an Fc domain comprising the CH2 domain derived from IgG and the CH3 domain derived from IgE, or the CH2 domain derived from IgG1 and the CH3 domain derived from IgG2, etc.). The Fc domain may be engineered into a polypeptide chain comprising the diabody molecule of the invention in any position relative to other domains or portions of said polypeptide chain (e.g., the Fc domain, or portion thereof, may be c-terminal to both the VL and VH domains of the polypeptide of the chain; may be n-terminal to both the VL and VH domains; or may be N-terminal to one domain and c-terminal to another (i.e., between two domains of the polypeptide chain)).

The Fc domains in the polypeptide chains of the diabody molecules preferentially dimerize, resulting in the formation of a diabody molecule that exhibits immunoglobulin-like properties, e.g., Fc-FcγR, interactions. Fc comprising diabodies may be dimers, e.g., comprised of two polypeptide chains, each comprising a VH domain, a VL domain and an Fc domain. Dimerization of said polypeptide chains results in a bivalent diabody comprising an Fc domain, albeit with a structure distinct from that of an unmodified bivalent antibody. Such diabody molecules will exhibit altered phenotypes relative to a wild-type immunoglobulin, e.g., altered serum half-life, binding properties, etc. In other embodiments, diabody molecules comprising Fc domains may be tetramers. Such tetramers comprise two ‘heavier’ polypeptide chains, i.e., a polypeptide chain comprising a VL, a VH and an Fc domain, and two ‘lighter’ polypeptide chains, i.e., polypeptide chain comprising a VL and a VH. The lighter and heavier chains interact to form a monomer, and said monomers interact via their unpaired Fc domains to form an Ig-like molecule. Such an Ig-like diabody is tetravalent and may be monospecific, bispecific or tetraspecific.

Formation of a tetraspecific diabody molecule as described supra requires the interaction of four differing polypeptide chains. Such interactions are difficult to achieve with efficiency within a single cell recombinant production system, due to the many variants of potential chain mispairings. One solution to increase the probability of mispairings, is to engineer “knobs-into-holes” type mutations into the desired polypeptide chain pairs. Such mutations favor heterodimerization over homodimerization. For example, with respect to Fc-Fc-interactions, an amino acid substitution (preferably a substitution with an amino acid comprising a bulky side group forming a ‘knob’, e.g., tryptophan) can be introduced into the CH2 or CH3 domain such that steric interference will prevent interaction with a similarly mutated domain and will obligate the mutated domain to pair with a domain into which a complementary, or accommodating mutation has been engineered, i.e., ‘the hole’ (e.g., a substitution with glycine). Such sets of mutations can be engineered into any pair of polypeptides comprising the diabody molecule, and further, engineered into any portion of the polypeptides chains of said pair. Methods of protein engineering to favor heterodimerization over homodimerization are well known in the art, in particular with respect to the engineering of immunoglobulin-like molecules, and are encompassed herein (see e.g., Ridgway et al. (1996) “‘Knobs-Into-Holes’ Engineering Of Antibody CH3 Domains For Heavy Chain Heterodimerization,” Protein Engr. 9:617-621, Atwell et al. (1997) “Stable Heterodimers From Remodeling The Domain Interface Of A Homodimer Using A Phage Display Library,” J. Mol. Biol. 270: 26-35, and Xie et al. (2005) “A New Format Of Bispecific Antibody: Highly Efficient Heterodimerization, Expression And Tumor Cell Lysis,” J. Immunol. Methods 296:95-101; each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The invention also encompasses diabody molecules comprising variant Fc or variant hinge-Fc domains (or portion thereof), which variant Fc domain comprises at least one amino acid modification (e.g. substitution, insertion deletion) relative to a comparable wild-type Fc domain or hinge-Fc domain (or portion thereof). Molecules comprising variant Fc domains or hinge-Fc domains (or portion thereof) (e.g., antibodies) normally have altered phenotypes relative to molecules comprising wild-type Fc domains or hinge-Fc domains or portions thereof. The variant phenotype may be expressed as altered serum half-life, altered stability, altered susceptibility to cellular enzymes or altered effector function as assayed in an NK dependent or macrophage dependent assay. Fc domain modifications identified as altering effector function are disclosed above. A large number of substitutions in the Fc domain of human IgG1 that increase binding to activating receptors (e.g., FcγRIIA (CD16A) and reduce binding to inhibitory receptors (e.g., FcγRIIB (CD32B) are known in the art and are described in Stavenhagen, J. B. et al. (2007) “Fc Optimization Of Therapeutic Antibodies Enhances Their Ability To Kill Tumor Cells In Vitro And Controls Tumor Expansion In Vivo Via Low Affinity Activating Fcgamma Receptors,” Cancer Res. 57(18):8882-8890. Exemplary variants of human IgG1 Fc domains with reduced binding to CD32B and/or increased binding to CD16A contain F243L, R929P, Y300L, V305I or P296L substitutions. These amino acid substitutions may be present in a human IgG1 Fc domain in any combination. In one embodiment, the human IgG1 Fc domain variant contains a F243L, R929P and Y300L substitution. In another embodiment, the human IgG1 Fc domain variant contains a F243L, R929P, Y300L, V305I and P296L substitution. In another embodiment, the human IgG1 Fc domain variant contains an N297Q substitution, as this mutation abolishes FcR binding.

The present invention also encompasses molecules comprising a hinge domain. The hinge domain may be derived from any immunoglobulin isotype or allotype including IgA, IgD, IgG, IgE and IgM. In preferred embodiments, the hinge domain is derived from IgG, wherein the IgG isotype is IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 or IgG4, or an allotype thereof. Said hinge domain may be engineered into a polypeptide chain comprising the diabody molecule together with an Fc domain such that the diabody molecule comprises a hinge-Fc domain. In certain embodiments, the hinge and Fc domain are independently selected from any immunoglobulin isotype known in the art or exemplified herein. In other embodiments the hinge and Fc domain are separated by at least one other domain of the polypeptide chain, e.g., the VL domain. The hinge domain, or optionally the hinge-Fc domain, may be engineered in to a polypeptide of the invention in any position relative to other domains or portions of said polypeptide chain. In certain embodiments, a polypeptide chain of the invention comprises a hinge domain, which hinge domain is at the C-terminus of the polypeptide chain, wherein said polypeptide chain does not comprise an Fc domain. In yet other embodiments, a polypeptide chain of the invention comprises a hinge-Fc domain, which hinge-Fc domain is at the C-terminus of the polypeptide chain. In further embodiments, a polypeptide chain of the invention comprises a hinge-Fc domain, which hinge-Fc domain is at the N-terminus of the polypeptide chain.

Each domain of the polypeptide chain of the diabody, i.e., the VL, VH and Fc domain may be separated by a peptide linker. The peptide linker may be 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, amino acids. In certain embodiments the amino acid linker sequence is GGGSGGGG (SEQ ID NO:27) encoded by the nucleic acid sequence ggaggcggat ccggaggcgg aggc (SEQ ID NO:28). The polypeptide chains of the diabody molecule may be engineered to comprise at least one cysteine residue that will interact with a counterpart cysteine residue on a second polypeptide chain of the diabody to form an inter-chain disulfide bond. Such interchain disulfide bonds serve to stabilize the diabody molecule, thereby improving expression and recovery in recombinant systems, resulting in a stable and consistent formulation and improving the stability of the isolated and/or purified product in vivo. The cysteine residue may be introduced as a single amino acid or as part of larger amino-acid sequence, e.g. a hinge domain, in any portion of the polypeptide chain. In a specific embodiment, the cysteine residue may be engineered to occur at the C-terminus of the polypeptide chain. In some embodiments, the cysteine residue is introduced into the polypeptide chain within the amino acid sequence LGGC (SEQ ID NO:29). In a specific embodiment, the C-terminus of the polypeptide chains comprising the diabody molecule of the invention comprises the amino acid sequence LGGC (SEQ ID NO:29). In another embodiment, the cysteine residue is introduced into the polypeptide within an amino acid sequence comprising a hinge domain, e.g. EPKSCDKTHTCPP (SEQ ID NO:30) or ESKYGPPCPS (SEQ ID NO:31). In a specific embodiment, the C-terminus of a polypeptide chain of the diabody molecule of the invention comprises the amino acid sequence of an IgG hinge domain, e.g. SEQ ID NO:29 or SEQ ID NO:31. In another embodiment, the C-terminus of a polypeptide chain of a diabody molecule of the invention comprises the amino acid sequence VEPKSC (SEQ ID NO:32), which can be encoded by nucleotide sequence gttgagccca aatcttgt (SEQ ID NO:33). In other embodiments, the cysteine residue in introduced into the polypeptide chain within the amino acid sequence LGGCFNRGEC (SEQ ID NO:34), which can be encoded by the nucleotide sequence ctgggaggct gcttcaacag gggagagtgt (SEQ ID NO:35). In a specific embodiment, the C-terminus of a polypeptide chain comprising the diabody of the invention comprises the amino acid sequence LGGCFNRGEC (SEQ ID NO:34). In yet other embodiments, the cysteine residue in introduced into the polypeptide chain within the amino acid sequence FNRGEC (SEQ ID NO:36), which can be encoded by the nucleotide sequence ttcaacaggg gagagtgt (SEQ ID NO:37). In a specific embodiment, the C-terminus of a polypeptide chain comprising the diabody of the invention comprises the amino acid sequence FNRGEC (SEQ ID NO:36).

In certain embodiments, the diabody molecule comprises at least two polypeptide chains, each of which comprise the amino acid sequence LGGC (SEQ ID NO:29) and are covalently linked by a disulfide bond between the cysteine residues in the LGGC (SEQ ID NO:29) sequences. In certain embodiments, the diabody molecule comprises at least two polypeptide chains, each of which comprise the amino acid sequence GGCGGG (SEQ ID NO:38) and are covalently linked by a disulfide bond between the cysteine residues in the GGCGGG (SEQ ID NO:38) sequences. In another specific embodiment, the diabody molecule comprises at least two polypeptide chains, one of which comprises the sequence FNRGEC (SEQ ID NO:36) while the other comprises a hinge domain (containing at least one cysteine residue), wherein said at least two polypeptide chains are covalently linked by a disulfide bond between the cysteine residue in FNRGEC (SEQ ID NO:36) and a cysteine residue in the hinge domain. In particular aspects, the cysteine residue responsible for the disulfide bond located in the hinge domain is Cys-128 (as numbered according to Kabat EU; located in the hinge domain of an unmodified, intact IgG heavy chain) and the counterpart cysteine residue is Cys-214 (as numbered according to Kabat EU; located at the C-terminus of an unmodified, intact IgG light chain) (Elkabetz et al. (2005) “Cysteines In CH1 Underlie Retention Of Unassembled Ig Heavy Chains,” J. Biol. Chem. 280:14402-14412). In yet other embodiments, the at least one cysteine residue is engineered to occur at the N-terminus of the amino acid chain. In still other embodiments, the at least one cysteine residue is engineered to occur in the linker portion of the polypeptide chain of the diabody molecule. In further embodiments, the VH or VL domain is engineered to comprise at least one amino acid modification relative to the parental VH or VL domain such that said amino acid modification comprises a substitution of a parental amino acid with cysteine.

In still another aspect of this embodiment, the Domain (C) of the first polypeptide chain comprises the amino acid sequence VEPKSC (SEQ ID NO:32), derived from the hinge domain of a human IgG, and which can be encoded by the nucleotide sequence gttgagccca aatcttgt (SEQ ID NO:33). In another aspect of this embodiment, the Domain (F) of the second polypeptide chain comprises the amino acid sequence VEPKSC (SEQ ID NO:32). In certain aspects of this embodiment, Domain (C) of the first polypeptide chain comprises the C-terminal 6 amino acids of the human kappa light chain, FNRGEC (SEQ ID NO:36); and Domain (F) of the second polypeptide chain comprises the amino acid sequence VEPKSC (SEQ ID NO:32) or a hinge domain. In other aspects of this embodiment, Domain (F) of the second polypeptide chain comprises the C-terminal 6 amino acids of the human kappa light chain, FNRGEC (SEQ ID NO:36); and Domain (C) of the first polypeptide chain comprises the amino acid sequence VEPKSC (SEQ ID NO:32) or a hinge domain.

As will be appreciated in view of the foregoing, the individual polypeptides of a bispecific diabody can form two species of homodimers and one species of heterodimer. In one embodiment of the present invention, a charged polypeptide can be added to the C-terminus of one, or more preferably, both diabody polypeptides. By selecting charged polypeptides of opposite charge for the individual polypeptides of the bispecific diabody, the inclusion of such charged polypeptides favors formation of heterodimers and lessens formation of homodimers. Preferably, a positively charged polypeptide will contain a substantial content of arginine, glutamine, histidine and/or lysine (or mixtures of such amino acids) and a negatively charged polypeptide will contain a substantial content of aspartate or glutamate (or a mixture of such amino acids). Positively charged polypeptides containing a substantial content of lysine and negatively charged polypeptides containing a substantial content of glutamate are particularly preferred. In order to maximize the electrostatic attraction between such opposingly charged polypeptides, it is preferred to employ polypeptides capable of spontaneously assuming a helical conformation.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment, a negatively charged, “E-coil” will be appended to one of the polypeptides being used to form a bispecific diabody and a positively charged “K-coil” will be appended to the second of the diabody's polypeptides (FIG. 1B). A particularly preferred E-coil will have the sequence: (EVAALEK)₄ [i.e. (SEQ ID NO:39) EVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEK]. A particularly preferred K-coil will have the sequence: (KVAALKE)₄ [i.e. (SEQ ID NO:40) KVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKE].

A preferred diabody polypeptide possessing such an E-coil will have the general sequence: [VL Domain]-[GGGSGGGG]-[VH Domain]-[(EVAALEK)₄]-GGGNS, where VL is the diabody's variable light Ig domain, GGGSGGGG is SEQ ID NO:27, VH is the diabody's variable heavy Ig domain, (EVAALEK)₄ is SEQ ID NO:39, and GGGNS is SEQ ID NO:41. A preferred diabody polypeptide possessing such a K-coil will have the general sequence: [VL Domain]-[GGGSGGGG]-[VH Domain]-[(KVAALKE)₄]-GGGNS, where VL is the diabody's variable light Ig domain, GGGSGGGG is SEQ ID NO:25, VH is the diabody's variable heavy Ig domain, (KVAALKE)₄ is SEQ ID NO:40, and GGGNS is SEQ ID NO:41.

In a further embodiment, Fc-regions can be linked to the E and/or K coils of E-coil or K-coil diabodies. Furthering the separation between the Fc regions and the diabody VH domain of an Fc-containing diabody is desirable in cases in which a less separated arrangement of such domains results in diminished interaction between such domains and their binding ligands or otherwise interferes with diabody assembly. Although separators of any amino acid sequence may be employed, it is preferable to employ separators that form an a helix coils, so as to maximally extend and project the Fc domain away from the variable domains. Because the above-described coiled polypeptides of opposing charge additionally function to promote heterodimer formation, such molecules are particularly preferred separators. Such coil-containing Fc-diabody molecules provide benefits similar to those of Fc-diabodies, including improved serum half-life and effector function recruitment. The above-described E-coil and K-coil polypeptides are particularly preferred for this purpose. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the E-coil Fc-containing diabody will have the general sequence: [VL Domain]-[GGGSGGGG]-[VH Domain]-[(EVAALEK)₄]-GGG-Fc domain starting with D234 (Kabat numbering), where VL is the diabody's variable light Ig domain, GGGSGGGG is SEQ ID NO:27, VH is the diabody's variable heavy Ig domain and (EVAALEK)₄ is SEQ ID NO:39. Similarly, in a preferred embodiment, the K-coil Fc-containing diabody will have the general sequence: [VL Domain]-[GGGSGGGG]-[VH Domain]-[(KVAALKE)₄]-GGG-Fc domain starting with D234 (Kabat numbering), where VL is the diabody's variable light Ig domain, GGGSGGGG is SEQ ID NO:27, VH is the diabody's variable heavy Ig domain and (KVAALKE)₄ is SEQ ID NO:40.

As indicated above, a coil-containing diabody molecule or a coil-containing Fc-containing diabody molecule may contain only a single such coil separator, or it may contain more than one such separators (e.g., two separators, preferably of opposite charge, of which one is linked to each of the VH domain of the diabody's polypeptides). By linking the Fc region to such separator molecule(s), the ability to make bivalent, tetravalent, etc. versions of the Fc-diabody molecules by chain swapping is enhanced. Fc-diabody molecules can thus be produced that form monomers or dimers depending upon whether the Fc domain is linked to one or both of the diabody VH domains.

Thus, the invention includes a diabody composed of three polypeptide chains, illustrated in FIG. 1C. The first polypeptide chain comprises (from N-Terminus to C-terminus):

-   -   (i) a domain (A) comprising a binding region of a light chain         variable domain of a first immunoglobulin (VL1) specific for an         epitope (1);     -   (ii) a domain (B) comprising a binding region of a heavy chain         variable domain of a second immunoglobulin (VH2) specific for an         epitope (2); and     -   (iii) an E coil or a K coil.

The second polypeptide chain comprises (from N-Terminus to C-terminus):

-   -   (i) a domain (D) comprising a binding region of a light chain         variable domain of the second immunoglobulin (VL2) specific for         epitope (2);     -   (ii) a domain (E) comprising a binding region of a heavy chain         variable domain of the first immunoglobulin (VH1) specific for         epitope (1); and     -   (iii) a K coil (if the first polypeptide has an E coil) or an E         coil (if the first polypeptide has a K coil).

The second polypeptide chain additionally contains a CH2-CH3 region of an Fc region, which may be N-terminal to Domain D, or C-terminal to Domain E.

The third polypeptide chain comprises a CH2-CH3 region of an Fc region

Epitope (1) above refers to an epitope of a viral protein, and epitope (2) to an epitope of an activating receptor or an epitope of a protein expressed on the surface of an immune effector cell that expresses an activating receptor. Alternatively, Epitope (1) above refers to an epitope of an activating receptor or an epitope of a protein expressed on the surface of an immune effector cell that expresses an activating receptor, and epitope (2) to an epitope of a viral protein.

In a preferred embodiment, the second polypeptide chain will contain a knob mutation (T366W) and alanine substitutions at positions 234 and 235. In such preferred embodiment, the third polypeptide chain will contain a hole mutation (T366S, L368A, and Y407V) and an H435R substitution to remove protein A binding ability. The presence of such knob and hole mutations fosters heterodimerization between the respective CH2-CH3 regions of the second and third polypeptide chains.

The bispecific molecules of the present invention can simultaneously bind two separate and distinct epitopes. In preferred embodiments, at least one epitope binding site is specific for a determinant expressed on an immune effector cell (e.g. CD3, CD16, CD32, CD64, T-cell receptor, NKG2D, etc.) which are expressed on T lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells or other mononuclear cells. In one embodiment, the diabody molecule binds to the effector cell determinant and also activates said effector cell. In this regard, the bispecific molecules of the invention may exhibit Ig-like functionality independent of whether they further comprise an Fc domain (e.g., as assayed in any effector function assay known in the art or exemplified herein (e.g., ADCC assay). In certain embodiments the bispecific diabody of the invention binds both a viral epitope and an effector cell determinant while activating said cell.

The invention further encompasses incorporation of unnatural amino acids to generate the diabodies of the invention. Such methods are known to those skilled in the art such as those using the natural biosynthetic machinery to allow incorporation of unnatural amino acids into proteins, see, e.g., Wang et al. (2002) “Expanding The Genetic Code,” Chem. Comm. 1: 1-11; Wang et al. (2001) “Expanding The Genetic Code Of Escherichia coli,” Science, 292: 498-500; van Hest et al. (2001) “Protein-Based Materials, Toward A New Level Of Structural Control,” Chem. Comm. 19: 1897-1904, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Alternative strategies focus on the enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of amino acyl-tRNA, see, e.g., Tang et al. (2001) “Biosynthesis Of A Highly Stable Coiled-Coil Protein Containing Hexafluoroleucine In An Engineered Bacterial Host,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 123(44): 11089-11090; Kiick et al. (2001) “Identification Of An Expanded Set Of Translationally Active Methionine Analogues In Escherichia coli,” FEBS Lett. 502(1-2):25-30; each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In some embodiments, the invention encompasses methods of modifying a VL, VH or Fc domain of a molecule of the invention by adding or deleting a glycosylation site. Methods for modifying the carbohydrate of proteins are well known in the art and encompassed within the invention, see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,218,149; EP 0 359 096 B1; U.S. Publication No. US 2002/0028486; WO 03/035835; U.S. Publication No. 2003/0115614; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,218,149; 6,472,511; all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

VIII. Methods of Using the Bispecific Molecules of the Present Invention for Therapeutic Purposes

The bispecific molecules of the present invention may be used for therapeutic purposes in humans and/or non-human mammalian animals experiencing, or at risk of, a viral disease. Therapy with such bispecific molecules can involve formation of complexes both in vitro and in vivo as described above. In one embodiment, such bispecific molecules can bind to and reduce the proliferation of viruses associated with such disease. It is understood that the bispecific molecule is administered at a concentration that promotes binding at physiological (e.g., in vivo) conditions. In another embodiment, such bispecific molecules can be used for immunotherapy directed at virally-infected cells (or cells at risk of such infection) of different tissues such as colon, lung, breast, prostate, ovary, pancreas, kidney etc. In another embodiment, such bispecific molecules alone can bind to and reduce cell division of virally infected cells. In another embodiment, such bispecific molecules can bind to virally infected cells and delay their growth. In yet another embodiment, an individual with cancer, or an infectious disease is given palliative treatment with such bispecific molecules. Palliative treatment of such individuals involves treating or lessening the adverse symptoms of the cancer or infectious disease, or iatrogenic symptoms resulting from other treatments given for the disease without directly affecting the disease progression. This includes treatments for easing of pain, nutritional support, sexual problems, psychological distress, depression, fatigue, psychiatric disorders, nausea, vomiting, etc. In one embodiment, the molecules of the present invention are administered therapeutically or prophylactically to patients (e.g., HIV+ patients or cancer patients) to address secondary viral infections (as opposed to HIV or cancer) that occur or may occur in such individuals.

Various formulations of the bispecific molecules of the invention may be used for administration. In some embodiments, bispecific molecules or fragments thereof may be administered neat. In addition to the pharmacologically active agent, the compositions of the present invention may contain suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers comprising excipients and auxiliaries that are well known in the art and are relatively inert substances that facilitate administration of a pharmacologically effective substance or which facilitate processing of the active compounds into preparations that can be used pharmaceutically for delivery to the site of action. For example, an excipient can give form or consistency, or act as a diluent. Suitable excipients include but are not limited to stabilizing agents, wetting and emulsifying agents, salts for varying osmolarity, encapsulating agents, buffers, and skin penetration enhancers.

Suitable formulations for parenteral administration include aqueous solutions of the active compounds in water-soluble form, for example, water-soluble salts. In addition, suspensions of the active compounds as appropriate for oily injection suspensions may be administered. Suitable lipophilic solvents or vehicles include fatty oils, for example, sesame oil, or synthetic fatty acid esters, for example, ethyl oleate or triglycerides. Aqueous injection suspensions may contain substances that increase the viscosity of the suspension and include, for example, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sorbitol, and/or dextran. Optionally, the suspension may also contain stabilizers. Liposomes can also be used to encapsulate the agent for delivery into the cell.

The pharmaceutical formulation for systemic administration according to the invention may be formulated for enteral, parenteral or topical administration. Indeed, all three types of formulation may be used simultaneously to achieve systemic administration of the active ingredient. Excipients as well as formulations for parenteral and non-parenteral drug delivery are set forth in REMINGTON: THE SCIENCE AND PRACTICE OF PHARMACY, 21st Edition, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Publishing (2005). Suitable formulations for oral administration include hard or soft gelatin capsules, pills, tablets, including coated tablets, elixirs, suspensions, syrups or inhalations and controlled release forms thereof. Generally, these agents are formulated for administration by injection (e.g., intraperitoneally, intravenously, subcutaneously, intramuscularly, etc.), although other forms of administration (e.g., oral, mucosal, etc.) can be also used. Accordingly, the bispecific molecules are preferably combined with pharmaceutically acceptable vehicles such as saline, Ringer's solution, dextrose solution, and the like.

Empirical considerations, such as the biological half-life, generally will contribute to the determination of the dosage. Frequency of administration may be determined and adjusted over the course of therapy, and is based on reducing the number of virally infected cells, maintaining the reduction of infected cells, reducing the proliferation of infected cells, or delaying the development of infection. Alternatively, sustained continuous release formulations of the bispecific molecules may be appropriate. Various formulations and devices for achieving sustained release are known in the art.

In one embodiment, dosages for the bispecific molecules may be determined empirically in individuals who have been given one or more administration(s). Individuals are given incremental dosages of the bispecific molecule. To assess efficacy of the bispecific molecules, a marker of the specific viral disease state can be followed. These include direct measurements of viral load, indirect measurement of viral load by immunoassay, other imaging techniques; an improvement in health as assessed by such measurements, the measurement of an indirect viral marker, e.g., a decrease in pain or paralysis; improved speech, vision, breathing or other disability associated with the infection; increased appetite; or an increase in quality of life as measured by accepted tests or prolongation of survival. It will be apparent to one of skill in the art that the dosage will vary depending on the individual, the type of virus, the stage of the disease, and the past and concurrent treatments being used.

Other formulations include suitable delivery forms known in the art including, but not limited to, carriers such as liposomes. See, for example, Mahato et al. (1997) “Cationic Lipid-Based Gene Delivery Systems: Pharmaceutical Perspectives,” Pharm. Res. 14:853-859. Liposomal preparations include, but are not limited to, cytofectins, multilamellar vesicles and unilamellar vesicles.

Having now generally described the invention, the same will be more readily understood through reference to the following Examples which relate to bispecific molecules that bind epitopes of the Epstein Barr virus or human papillomavirus. Such Examples are provided by way of illustration and are not intended to be limiting of the present invention unless specified.

Example 1 Construction of Bispecific Molecules for Latent EBV

Bispecific molecules specific for human T-cells and Epstein-Barr virus (CD3×LMP-1 and TCR×LMP-2) can be prepared as a dual affinity retargeting (diabody molecule. Such bispecific molecules have the ability to localize a T-cell (by binding such T-cell to the CD3 portion of a CD3-binding bispecific molecule or to the TCR portion of a TCR-binding bispecific molecule) to the location of a cell latently infected with EBV and expressing LMP-1 or LMP-2 (respectively) (by binding such cell to the LMP-1 or LMP-2 binding portion of the bispecific molecules). The localized T-cell can then mediate the killing of the cell latently infected with EBV in a process termed “redirected” killing. Antibodies that bind to LMP-1 or LMP-2 are known in the art (Fang, C. Y. et al. (2004) “Construction And Characterization Of Monoclonal Antibodies Specific To Epstein-Barr Virus Latent Membrane Protein 1,” J. Immunol. Methods 287(1-2):21-30; Fruehling, S. et al. (1996) “Identification Of Latent Membrane Protein 2A (LMP2A) Domains Essential For The LMP2A Dominant-Negative Effect On B-Lymphocyte Surface Immunoglobulin Signal Transduction,” J Virol. 70:6216-6226; Fruehling, S. et al. (1998) “Tyrosine 112 Of Latent Membrane Protein 2A Is Essential For Protein Tyrosine Kinase Loading And Regulation Of Epstein-Barr Virus Latency,” J. Virol. 72:7796-7806) and can be obtained from Acris Antibodies (San Diego, Calif.), GenWay (San Diego, Calif.), and other sources.

The CD3×LMP-1 bispecific molecule can be constructed having the anti-CD3 variable domain of anti-CD3 Antibody 2 and the anti-LMP-1 variable domains of antibody HHV-4 (Acris Antibodies). The TCR×LMP-2 bispecific molecule can be constructed having the anti-TCR variable domain of BMA031 and the anti-LMP-2 variable domains of antibody 14B7 (mybiosource(dot)com).

Binding of the bispecific molecule to LMP-1-expressing cells and to CD3-positive T-cells can be measured by ELISA. In order to demonstrate the ability of the bispecific molecule to mediate redirected killing of EBV infected cells, the above described CD3×LMP-1 bispecific molecule or the CD2×LMP-2 bispecific molecule can be incubated at various concentrations with target cells and effector cells (human PBMCs), for example at an effector to target ratio of 20:1. Cytotoxicity can be determined using, for example an LDH assay. The results will demonstrate the ability of the CD3×LMP-1 bispecific molecule and the CD3×LMP-2 bispecific molecule to mediate redirected killing of EBV infected cells with human PBMCs.

Example 2 Treating EBV Latent Infection

Resting memory B cells represent the site of persistence of EBV within the body. (Babcock, G. J. et al. “Epstein-Barr Virus-Infected Resting Memory B Cells, Not Proliferating Lymphoblasts, Accumulate In The Peripheral Blood Of Immunosuppressed Patients,” J. Exp. Med. 190(4):567-576) In normal EBV-infected adults, from 1 to 50 B cells per million in the circulation are infected with EBV, and the number of latently infected cells within a person remains stable over years.

Of the nearly 100 viral genes that are expressed during replication, only 10 are expressed in latently infected B cells in vitro, including LMP-1 and LMP-2.

By markedly limiting viral gene expression during latency, EBV reduces the number of viral proteins expressed, thereby limiting the “exposure” of infected cells to the host's cytotoxic T cells.

A patient with latent EBV infection is administers a CD3×LMP-1 bispecific molecule. The bispecific molecule binds to LMP-1 found on the surface of infected cells, recruits T-cells to the infected cells and activates the T-cells. The activated T-cells kill the EBV-infected cells thereby eliminating EBV infection in the patient.

Example 3 Construction of Bispecific Molecules for HPV

A bispecific molecule specific for human T-cells and human papillomavirus E6 (CD3×HPV E6/MHC) can be prepared as a dual affinity retargeting (diabody) molecule. Antibodies that bind to human papillomavirus E6 are known in the art (Phaeton, R. et al. (2010) “Radioimmunotherapy With An Antibody To The HPV16 E6 Oncoprotein Is Effective In An Experimental Cervical Tumor Expressing Low Levels Of E6,” Cancer Biol. Ther. 10(10):1041-1047; Lagrange, M. et al. (2005) “Binding Of Human Papillomavirus 16 E6 To P53 And E6AP Is Impaired By Monoclonal Antibodies Directed Against The Second Zinc-Binding Domain Of E6,” J. Gen. Virol. 86(Pt 4):1001-1007; Wlazlo, A. P. et al. (2001) “Generation And Characterization Of Monoclonal Antibodies Against The E6 And E7 Oncoproteins Of HPV,” Hybridoma 20(4):257-263) and can be obtained from Acris Antibodies (San Diego, Calif.), GenWay (San Diego, Calif.), mybiosource(dot)com and other sources.

Such a bispecific molecule has the ability to localize a T-cell (by binding such T-cell to the CD3 portion of a CD3-binding bispecific molecule) to the location of a cell infected with HPV, expressing E6 and displaying a fragment of the E6 protein in the context of the cell's MHC class I system (by binding such cell to the HPV E6/MHC binding portion of the bispecific molecules). The localized T-cell can then mediate the killing of the cell latently infected with EBV in a process termed “redirected” killing.

The CD3×HPV E6/MHC bispecific molecule can be constructed having, for example, the anti-CD3 variable domain of OKT3 and the anti-HPV E6/MHC variable domains of antibody 29-10267 (mybiosource(dot)com).

Binding of the bispecific molecule to HPV E6/MHC and to CD3-positive T-cells can be measured by ELISA. In order to demonstrate the ability of the bispecific molecule to mediate redirected killing of HPV infected cells, the above described CD3×HPV E6/MHC bispecific molecule can be incubated at various concentrations with target cells and effector cells (human PBMCs) for example at an effector to target ratio of 20:1. Cytotoxicity can be determined by LDH assay. The results will demonstrate the ability of the CD3×HPV E6/MHC bispecific molecule to mediate redirected killing of HPV infected cells with human PBMCs.

Example 4 Bispecific Molecules Comprising an Fc Region Mediate Potent Redirected T-Cell Killing

A bispecific molecule can be constructed having an anti-CD3 variable domain and a domain that binds to a viral antigen and that further comprises an Fc region. Such molecule can be constructed by expressing three polypeptide chains in the same cell. The first polypeptide chain will comprise, for example, the light chain variable domain of an anti-CD3 antibody, a short linker, the variable heavy chain domain for an antibody that binds a viral antigen (e.g., HPV E6/MHC), and an E coil domain. The second polypeptide chain will comprise, for example, the light chain variable domain of the anti-HPV E6/MHC antibody, a short linker, the variable heavy chain domain for the anti-CD3 antibody, a K coil domain and last a CH2 and CH3 domain of an IgG Fc. The third polypeptide chain will comprise, for example, a CH2 and CH3 domain of the IgG Fc.

The E and K coils ensure that chain 1 heterodimerizes with chain 2. To ensure that chain 2 does not homodimerize at the CH2 and CH3 domains, the sequence is modified to include a knob at position 366 (T366W modification) (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,731,168; 5,807,706; 5,821,333; 7,429,652; 7,642,228; 7,695,936; and 8,216,800). To disable the Fc region, alanine residues are incorporated at positions 234 and 235 (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,821). To accept the knob created in the Fc region of chain 2, three substitutions are made in chain 3 to create a hole (T366S, L368A and Y407V). A modification at position 435 (H435R) is used to prevent homodimers of chain 3 from binding to Protein A, thus aiding in purification of the bispecific molecule. Any chain 3 homodimers can be purified away from the products by size exclusion chromatography.

Vectors encoding the three chains are transfected into CHO cells. Following appropriate selection, the cells are cultured in medium for 7 days. Culture medium and cells are harvested. The bispecific molecule is purified using chromatography methods well known in the art, and is shown to be capable of simultaneously binding to both CD3 expressed on the surface of immune effector cells and to HPV E6/MHC expressed on the surface of an HPV-infected cell, and thereby facilitating the death of such HPV-infected cell.

Example 5 Construction of an Anti-CD16×Anti-HIV Env Bispecific Molecule Construction of an Anti-Fluorescein×Anti-HIV Env Bispecific Molecule

As a further example of the bispecific molecules of the present invention, a bispecific diabody molecule was produced that was composed of two polypeptide chains, covalently bonded to one another, so as to form a first epitope binding site specific for CD16 and a second epitope binding site specific for the HIV env protein.

The first polypeptide chain of the bispecific diabody preferably has:

-   (I) the light chain variable domain of anti-HIV env antibody 7B2     (GenBank Accession No. AFQ31503; Buchacher, A. et al. (1994)     “Generation Of Human Monoclonal Antibodies Against HIV-1 Proteins;     Electrofusion And Epstein-Barr Virus Transformation For Peripheral     Blood Lymphocyte Immortalization,” AIDS Res. Hum. Retroviruses     10(4):359-369; Shen, R. (2010) “GP41-Specific Antibody Blocks     Cell-Free HIV Type 1 Transcytosis Through Human Rectal Mucosa And     Model Colonic Epithelium,” J. Immunol. 184(7):3648-3655) or an     antibody that competes with antibody 7B2 for binding, or an antibody     that binds to the env protein of HIV; -   (II) the heavy chain variable domain of antibody h3G8 (WO     2012/162068; U.S. Pat. No. 7,351,803) or an antibody that competes     with antibody 3G8 for binding, or an antibody that binds to CD16     (FcγRIIIA); and

(III) an E coil domain (i.e., (EVAALEK)₄; EVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEK; SEQ ID NO: 39) or a K coil domain (i.e., (KVAALKE)₄;. KVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKE; SEQ ID NO: 40).

The second polypeptide chain of such bispecific diabody preferably has:

-   (I) the light chain variable domain of antibody h3G8 (WO     2012/162068; U.S. Pat. No. 7,351,803) or such antibody that competes     with antibody 3G8 for binding, or such antibody that binds to CD16     (FcγRIIIA); -   (II) the heavy chain variable domain of such antibody 7B2 or such     antibody that competes with antibody 7B2 for binding, or such     antibody that binds to the env protein of HIV; and

(III) a K coil domain (i.e., (KVAALKE)₄;. KVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKE; SEQ ID NO: 40) or an E coil domain (i.e., (EVAALEK)₄; EVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEK; SEQ ID NO: 39).

In a preferred embodiment, a negatively charged, “E-coil” will be appended to one of the polypeptides being used to form the bispecific diabody and a positively charged “K-coil” will be appended to the second of the diabody's polypeptides.

Preferably, the first polypeptide chain of such a diabody has the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:42) (CDRs are underlined):

DIVMTQSPDS LAVSPGERAT IHC KSSQTLL   YSSNNRHSIA WYQQRPGQPP KLLLY WASMR LS GVPDRFSG SGSGTDFTLT INNLQAEDVA IYYC HQYSSH   PPT FGHGTRV EIKGGGSGGG GQVTLRESGP ALVKPTQTLT LTCTFSGFSL S TSGMGVG WI RQPPGKALEW LA HIWWDDDK   RYNPALKS RL TISKDTSKNQ VVLTMTNMDP VDTATYYCAQ  INPAWFAY WG QGTLVTVSSG GCGGGEVAAL EKEVAALEKE VAALEKEVAAL EK wherein residues 1-113 are the light chain variable domain of antibody 7B2 (GenBank Accession No. AFQ31503) (CDR residues are shown in underline), residues 114-121 are the linker GGGSGGGG (SEQ ID NO:27), residues 122-239 are the heavy chain variable domain of antibody h3G8 (CDR residues are shown in underline), residues 240-245 are the linker GGCGGG (SEQ ID NO:38) and residues 246-277 are the E coil (EVAALEK)₄ [i.e. (SEQ ID NO:39) EVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEKEVAA].

Preferably, the second polypeptide chain of such a diabody has the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:43) (CDRs are underlined):

DIVMTQSPDS LAVSLGERAT INC KASQSVD   FDGDSFMN WY QQKPGQPPKL LIY TTSNLES  GVPDRFSGSG SGTDFTLTIS SLQAEDVAVY YC QQSNEDPY   T FGQGTKLEI KGGGSGGGGQ VQLVQSGGGV FKPGGSLRLS CEASGFTFT E   YYMT WVROAP GKGLEWLAY I SKNGEYSKYS PSSNG RFTIS RDNAKNSVFL QLDRLSADDT AVYYCAR ADG   LTYFSELLQY   IFDL WGQGAR VTVSSGGCGG GKVAALKEKV AALKEKVAAL KEKVAALKE wherein residues 1-111 are the light chain variable domain of antibody h3G8 (CDR residues are shown in underline), residues 112-119 are the linker GGGSGGGG (SEQ ID NO:27), residues 120-245 are the heavy chain variable domain of antibody 7B2 (GenBank Accession No. AFQ31502) (CDR residues are shown in underline), residues 246-251 are the linker GGCGGG (SEQ ID NO:38) and residues 252-279 are the K coil (KVAALKE)₄ [i.e., SEQ ID NO:40) KVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKE].

A bispecific diabody was also produced that contained the variable light and heavy domains of the above-described anti-CD16 (FcγRIIIA) antibody h3G8 and the variable light and heavy domains of anti-fluorescein antibody 4-4-20 (Gruber, M. et al. (1994) “Efficient Tumor Cell Lysis Mediated By A Bispecific Single Chain Antibody Expressed In Escherichia coli,” J. Immunol. 152(11):5368-5374; Bedzyk, W. D. et al. (1989) “Comparison Of Variable Region Primary Structures Within An Anti-Fluorescein Idiotype Family,” J. Biol. Chem. 264(3): 1565-1569). The amino acid sequences of the two polypeptide chains of the control antibody are:

SEQ ID NO:44 (first polypeptide chain of control diabody; VL h3G8 VH 4-4-20) (CDRs are underlined):

DIVMTQSPDS LAVSLGERAT INC KASQSVD   FDGDSFMN WY QQKPGQPPKL LIY TTSNLES  GVPDRFSGSG SGTDFTLTIS SLQAEDVAVY YC QQSNEDPY   T FGQGTKLEI KGGGSGGGGE VKLDETGGGL VQPGRPMKLS CVASGFTFS D   YWM NWVRQSP EKGLEWVA QI   RNKPYNYETY YSDSVKG RFT ISRDDSKSSV YLQMNNLRVE DMGIYYCTG S   YYGMDY WGQG TSVTVSSGGC GGGEVAALEK EVAALEKEVA ALEKEVAALE KGGGNS wherein residues 1-111 are the light chain variable domain of antibody h3G8, residues 112-119 are the linker GGGSGGGG (SEQ ID NO:27), residues 120-237 are the heavy chain variable domain of antibody 4-4-20, residues 238-243 are the linker GGCGGG (SEQ ID NO:38), residues 244-271 are the E coil (EVAALEK)₄ [i.e. (SEQ ID NO:39) EVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEK], and residues 272-276 are the linker GGGNS (SEQ ID NO:41); and

SEQ ID NO:45 (second polypeptide chain of control diabody; VL 4-4-20 VH h3G8) (CDRs are underlined):

DVVMTQTPFS LPVSLGDQAS ISC RSSQSLV   HSNGNTYLR W YLQKPGQSPK VLIY KVSNRF   S GVPDRFSGS GSGTDFTLKI SRVEAEDLGV YFC SQSTHVP   W TFGGGTKLE IKGGGSGGGG QVTLRESGPA LVKPTQTLTL TCTFSGFSLS  TSGMGVG WIR QPPGKALEWL A HIWWDDDKR   YNPALKS RLT ISKDTSKNQV VLTMTNMDPV DTATYYCAQ I   NPAWFAY WGQ GTLVTVSSGG CGGGKVAALK EKVAALKEKV AALKEKVAAL KEGGGNSGGG DYKDDDDKGG GSNS wherein residues 1-112 are the light chain variable domain of antibody 4-4-20, residues 113-120 are the linker GGGSGGGG (SEQ ID NO:27), residues 121-238 are the heavy chain variable domain of antibody h3G8, residues 239-244 are the linker GGCGGG (SEQ ID NO:38), residues 245-272 are the K coil (KVAALKE)₄ [i.e., SEQ ID NO:40) KVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKE], residues 273-277 are the linker GGGNS (SEQ ID NO:41) and residues 278-294 are a FLAG-tag (Munro, S. et al. (1984) “Use Of Peptide Tagging To Detect Proteins Expressed From Cloned Genes: Deletion Mapping Functional Domains Of Drosophila hsp 70,” EMBO J. 3(13):3087-3093).

Example 6 Cytotoxic Lymphocyte Activity Assessment of CD16×HIV Env Bispecific Molecules

The initial step in HIV-1 infection occurs with the binding of cell surface CD4 to trimeric HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins (Env), a heterodimer of a transmembrane glycoprotein (gp41) and a surface glycoprotein (gp120). The conformational changes triggered in trimeric Env upon CD4 binding lead ultimately to fusion of the viral and cell membranes and to delivery of the viral core into infected cells (Harris, A. et al. (2011) “Trimeric HIV-1 Glycoprotein Gp140 Immunogens And Native HIV-1 Envelope Glycoproteins Display The Same Closed And Open Quaternary Molecular Architectures,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (U.S.A.) 108(28):11440-11445). The gp120 and gp41 glycoproteins are initially synthesized as a single gp160 polypeptide that is subsequently cleaved to generate the non-covalently associated gp120/gp41 complex. The ectodomain of Env is a heterodimer with mass of approximately 140 kDa, composed of the entire gp120 component, and approximately 20 kDa of gp41 (Harris, A. et al. (2011) “Trimeric HIV-1 Glycoprotein Gp140 Immunogens And Native HIV-1 Envelope Glycoproteins Display The Same Closed And Open Quaternary Molecular Architectures,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (U.S.A.)

Human embryonic kidney HEK 293 D375 cells (92Th023, subtype AE, RS-tropic) express the HIV gp140 protein. As a further example of the utility of the bispecific molecules of the present invention, the above-described anti-CD16×anti-HIV env bispecific diabody was evaluated for its ability to mediate cytotoxic lymphocyte activity of HEK 293 D375 cells in the presence of natural killer cells. The above-described anti-fluorescein×anti-HIV env bispecific diabody was used as a control.

The results of this investigation are shown in FIG. 2 . FIG. 2 shows cytotoxic lymphocyte activity mediated by a bispecific diabody comprising the anti-CD16 epitope binding domains of antibody h3G8 and the anti-HIV env epitope binding domains of antibody 7B2 on gp140-expressing HEK 293 D375 cells (92Th023, subtype AE, RS-tropic) after 24 hours of incubation in the presence of natural killer (NK) at an Effector: Target ratio of 5:1. The natural killer (NK) cells were purified by positive selection (D56678 (LDH)). A bispecific diabody comprising the anti-fluorescein epitope binding domains of antibody 4-4-20 and the anti-HIV env epitope binding domains of antibody 7B2 was used as a control. The results show that the anti-CD16×anti-HIV env bispecific diabody mediated cytotoxic lymphocyte activity, whereas the control diabody did not.

FIG. 3 shows cytotoxic lymphocyte activity mediated by a bispecific diabody comprising the anti-CD16 epitope binding domains of antibody h3G8 and the anti-HIV env epitope binding domains of antibody 7B2 on gp140-expressing HEK 293 D375 cells (92Th023, subtype AE, RS-tropic) after 24 hours of incubation in the presence of natural killer (NK) at an Effector: Target ratio of 5:1. The natural killer (NK) cells were purified by negative selection (D55386 (LDH)). As expected (since NK cells lack CD3), a bispecific diabody comprising the anti-CD3 epitope binding domains of antibody hAntibody 2 and the anti-HIV env epitope binding domains of antibody 7B2 fail to show cytotoxic lymphocyte activity. A bispecific diabody comprising the anti-fluorescein epitope binding domains of antibody 4-4-20 and the anti-CD16 epitope binding domains of antibody h3G8 was used as a control. The results again show that the anti-CD16×anti-HIV env bispecific diabody mediated cytotoxic lymphocyte activity, whereas the above-described control diabody, and the CD16×CD3 bispecific diabody did not.

FIG. 4 shows the results of a similar experiment conducted using HEK 293 D371 (CM244, subtype AE, RS-tropic) cells, which express HIV gp140. FIG. 4 shows cytotoxic lymphocyte activity mediated by a bispecific diabody comprising the anti-CD16 epitope binding domains of antibody h3G8 and the anti-HIV env epitope binding domains of antibody 7B2 on HIV gp140-expressing HEK 293 D371 cells (CM244, subtype AE, R5-tropic) after 24 hours of incubation in the presence of natural killer (NK) at an Effector: Target ratio of 5:1. The natural killer (NK) cells were purified by negative selection (D55386 (LDH)). As expected (since NK cells lack CD3), a bispecific diabody comprising the anti-CD3 epitope binding domains of antibody hAntibody 2 and the anti-HIV env epitope binding domains of antibody 7B2 fail to show cytotoxic lymphocyte activity. A bispecific diabody comprising the anti-fluorescein epitope binding domains of antibody 4-4-20 and the anti-CD16 epitope binding domains of antibody h3G8 was used as a control. The results again show that the anti-CD16×anti-HIV env bispecific diabody mediated cytotoxic lymphocyte activity, whereas the above-described control diabodies did not.

Example 7 Construction of an Anti-CD3×Anti-HIV Gp120 Bispecific Molecule Construction of an Anti-CD3×Anti-HIV Env Bispecific Molecule Construction of an Anti-CD3×Anti-RSV F Protein Bispecific Molecule Construction of an Anti-Fluorescein×Anti-HIV Env Bispecific Molecule

As further examples of the bispecific molecules of the present invention, bispecific diabody molecules were produced that were composed of two polypeptide chains, covalently bonded to one another, so as to form a first epitope binding site specific for CD3 and a second epitope binding site specific for either the HIV gp120 protein, the HIV env protein, or the A antigenic site of the RSV F protein.

Anti-CD3×Anti-HIV Gp120 Bispecific Molecule

The first polypeptide chain of the bispecific diabody preferably has:

-   (I) the light chain variable domain of anti-HIV gp120 antibody A32     (Ferrari, G. et al. (2011) “An HIV-1 gp120 Envelope Human Monoclonal     Antibody That Recognizes a Cl Conformational Epitope Mediates Potent     Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC) Activity and Defines     a Common ADCC Epitope in Human HIV-1 Serum,” J. Virol.     85(14):7029-7036) or an antibody that competes with antibody A32 for     binding, or an antibody that binds to the gp120 protein of HIV; -   (II) the heavy chain variable domain of humanized anti-CD3 Antibody     2 (“hAntibody 2”) or an antibody that competes with anti-CD3     antibody 2 for binding, or an antibody that binds to CD3; and

(III) an E coil domain (i.e., (EVAALEK)₄; EVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEK; SEQ ID NO: 39) or a K coil domain (i.e., (KVAALKE)₄;. KVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKE; SEQ ID NO: 40).

The second polypeptide chain of such bispecific diabody preferably has:

-   (I) the light chain variable domain of humanized anti-CD3 Antibody 2     (“hAntibody 2”) or such antibody that competes with anti-CD3     antibody 2 for binding, or such antibody that binds to CD3; -   (II) the heavy chain variable domain of such antibody A32 or such     antibody that competes with antibody A32 for binding, or such     antibody that binds to the gp120 protein of HIV; and

(III)  a K coil domain (i.e., (KVAALKE)₄;. KVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKE; SEQ ID NO: 40) or  an E coil domain (i.e., (EVAALEK)₄; EVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEK; SEQ ID NO: 39).

In a preferred embodiment, a negatively charged, “E-coil” will be appended to one of the polypeptides being used to form the bispecific diabody and a positively charged “K-coil” will be appended to the second of the diabody's polypeptides.

Preferably, the first polypeptide chain of such a diabody has the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:46) (CDRs are underlined):

QSALTQPPSA SGSPGQSVTI SC TGTSSDVG   GYNYVS WYQH HPGKAPKLII S EVNNRPS GV PDRFSGSKSG NTASLTVSGL QAEDEAEYYC  SSYTDIHNFV  FGGGTKLTVL GGGSGGGGEV QLVESGGGLV QPGGSLRLSC AASGFTFS TY   AMN WVRQAPG KGLEWVG RIR   SKYNNYATYY   ADSVKG RFTI SRDDSKNSLY LQMNSLKTED TAVYYCVR HG   NFGNSYVSWF   AY WGQGTLVT VSSGGCGGGE VAALEKEVAA LEKEVAALEK EVAALEK wherein residues 1-110 are the light chain variable domain of antibody A32 (CDR residues are shown in underline), residues 111-118 are the linker GGGSGGGG (SEQ ID NO:27), residues 119-243 are the heavy chain variable domain of humanized anti-CD3 Antibody 2 (“hAntibody 2; CDRs are shown underlined), residues 247-252 are the linker GGCGGG (SEQ ID NO:38) and residues 253-280 are the E coil (EVAALEK)₄ [i.e. (SEQ ID NO:39) EVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEK].

Preferably, the second polypeptide chain of such a diabody has the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:47) (CDRs are underlined):

QAVVTQEPSL TVSPGGTVTL TC RSSTGAVT   TSNYAN WVQQ KPGQAPRGLI G GTNKRAP WT PARFSGSLLG GKAALTITGA QAEDEADYYC  ALWYSNLWV F GGGTKLTVLG GGGSGGGGQV QLQESGPGLV KPSQTLSLSC TVSGGSSS SG   AHYWS WIRQY PGKGLEWIG Y   IHYSGNTYYN   PSLKS RITIS QHTSENQFSL KLNSVTVADT AVYYCAR GTR   LRTLRNAFDI  WGQGTLVTVS SGGCGGGKVA ALKEKVAALK EKVAALKEKV AALKE wherein residues 1-110 are the light chain variable domain of anti-CD3 Antibody 2 (CDR residues are shown in underline), residues 111-118 are the linker GGGSGGGG (SEQ ID NO:27), residues 119-241 are the heavy chain variable domain of antibody A32 (CDR residues are shown in underline), residues 242-247 are the linker GGCGGG (SEQ ID NO:38) and residues 248-275 are the K coil (KVAALKE)₄ [i.e., SEQ ID NO:40) KVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKE].

Anti-CD3×Anti-HIV Env Bispecific Molecule

The first polypeptide chain of the bispecific diabody preferably has:

-   (I) the light chain variable domain of antibody 7B2 (GenBank     Accession No. AFQ31503; Buchacher, A. et al. (1994) “Generation Of     Human Monoclonal Antibodies Against HIV-1 Proteins; Electrofusion     And Epstein-Barr Virus Transformation For Peripheral Blood     Lymphocyte Immortalization,” AIDS Res. Hum. Retroviruses     10(4):359-369; Shen, R. (2010) “GP41-Specific Antibody Blocks     Cell-Free HIV Type 1 Transcytosis Through Human Rectal Mucosa And     Model Colonic Epithelium,” J. Immunol. 184(7):3648-3655) or an     antibody that competes with antibody 7B2 for binding, or an antibody     that binds to the env protein of HIV; and -   (II) the heavy chain variable domain of humanized anti-CD3 Antibody     2 (“hAntibody 2”) or an antibody that competes with anti-CD3     antibody 2 for binding, or an antibody that binds to CD3; and

(III) an E coil domain (i.e., (EVAALEK)₄; EVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEK; SEQ ID NO: 39) or a K coil domain (i.e., (KVAALKE)₄;. KVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKE; SEQ ID NO: 40).

The second polypeptide chain of such bispecific diabody preferably has:

-   (I) the light chain variable domain of humanized anti-CD3 Antibody 2     (“hAntibody 2”) or such antibody that competes with anti-CD3     antibody 2 for binding, or such antibody that binds to CD3; -   (II) the heavy chain variable domain of such antibody 7B2 or such     antibody that competes with antibody 7B2 for binding, or such     antibody that binds to the env protein of HIV; and

(III) a K coil domain (i.e., (KVAALKE)₄;. KVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKE; SEQ ID NO: 40) or an E coil domain (i.e., (EVAALEK)₄; EVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEK; SEQ ID NO: 39).

In a preferred embodiment, a negatively charged, “E-coil” will be appended to one of the polypeptides being used to form the bispecific diabody and a positively charged “K-coil” will be appended to the second of the diabody's polypeptides.

Preferably, the first polypeptide chain of such a diabody has the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:48) (CDRs are underlined):

DIVMTQSPDS LAVSPGERAT IHC KSSQTLL   YSSNNRHSIA WYQQRPGQPP KLLLY WASMR LS GVPDRFSG SGSGTDFTLT INNLQAEDVA IYYC HQYSSH   PPT FGHGTRV EIKGGGSGGG GEVQLVESGG GLVQPGGSLR LSCAASGFTF S TYAMN WVRQ APGKGLEWVG  RIRSKYNNYA   TYYADSVKG R FTISRDDSKN SLYLQMNSLK TEDTAVYYCV R HGNFGNSYV   SWFAY WGQGT LVTVSSGGCG GGEVAALEKE VAALEKEVAA LEKEVAALEK wherein residues 1-113 are the light chain variable domain of antibody 7B2 (GenBank Accession No. AFQ31503) (CDR residues are shown in underline), residues 114-121 are the linker GGGSGGGG (SEQ ID NO:27), residues 122-246 are the heavy chain variable domain of humanized anti-CD3 Antibody 2 (“hAntibody 2;” CDRs are shown underlined), residues 247-252 are the linker GGCGGG (SEQ ID NO:38) and residues 253-280 are the E coil (EVAALEK)₄ [i.e. (SEQ ID NO:39) EVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEK].

Preferably, the second polypeptide chain of such a diabody has the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:49) (CDRs are underlined):

QAVVTQEPSL TVSPGGTVTL TC RSSTGAVT   TSNYAN WVQQ KPGQAPRGLI G GTNKRAP WT PARFSGSLLG GKAALTITGA QAEDEADYYC  ALWYSNLWV F GGGTKLTVLG GGGSGGGGQV QLVQSGGGVF KPGGSLRLSC EASGFTFT EY   YMT WVRQAPG KGLEWLA YIS KNGEYSKYSP SSNG RFTISR DNAKNSVFLQ LDRLSADDTA VYYCAR ADGL   TYFSELLQYI   FDL WGQGARV TVSSGGCGGG KVAALKEKVA ALKEKVAALK EKVAALKE wherein residues 1-110 are the light chain variable domain of antibody Anti-CD3 Antibody 2 (CDR residues are shown in underline), residues 111-118 are the linker GGGSGGGG (SEQ ID NO:27), residues 119-244 are the heavy chain variable domain of antibody 7B2 (GenBank Accession No. AFQ31502) (CDR residues are shown in underline), residues 245-250 are the linker GGCGGG (SEQ ID NO:38) and residues 251-278 are the K coil (KVAALKE)₄ [i.e., SEQ ID NO:40) KVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKE].

Anti-CD3×Anti-RSV F Protein Bispecific Molecule

The first polypeptide chain of the bispecific diabody preferably has:

-   (I) the light chain variable domain of humanized anti-CD3 Antibody 2     (“hAntibody 2”) or an antibody that competes with anti-CD3 antibody     2 for binding, or an antibody that binds to CD3; and -   (II) the heavy chain variable domain of the anti-RSV F Protein     antibody, Palivizumab (Beeler, J. A. et al. (1989) “Neutralization     Epitopes Of The F Glycoprotein Of Respiratory Syncytial Virus:     Effect Of Mutation Upon Fusion Function,” J. Virol. 63(7):2941-2950;     Arbiza, J. et al. (1992) “Characterization Of Two Antigenic Sites     Recognized By Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibodies Directed Against     The Fusion Glycoprotein Of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus,” J.     Gen. Virol. 73(9):2225-2234; Shadman, K. A. et al. (2011) “A Review     Of Palivizumab And Emerging Therapies For Respiratory Syncytial     Virus,” Expert Opin. Biol. Ther. 11(11):1455-1467; Wang, D. et     al. (2011) “Palivizumab For Immunoprophylaxis Of Respiratory     Syncytial Virus (RSV) Bronchiolitis In High-Risk Infants And Young     Children: A Systematic Review And Additional Economic Modelling Of     Subgroup Analyses,” Health Technol. Assess. 15(5):iii-iv, 1-124.     doi: 10.3310/hta15050) or an antibody that competes with Palivizumab     for binding, or an antibody that binds to the A antigenic site of     the RSV F protein;

(III) an E coil domain (i.e., (EVAALEK)₄; EVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEK; SEQ ID NO: 39) or a K coil domain (i.e., (KVAALKE)₄;. KVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKE; SEQ ID NO: 40).

The second polypeptide chain of such bispecific diabody preferably has:

-   (I) the light chain variable domain of the anti-RSV F Protein     antibody, Palivizumab, or such antibody that competes with     Palivizumab for binding, or such antibody that binds to the A     antigenic site of the RSV F protein; and -   (II) the heavy chain variable domain of humanized anti-CD3 Antibody     2 (“hAntibody 2”) or such antibody that competes with anti-CD3     antibody 2 for binding, or such antibody that binds to CD3;

(III) a K coil domain (i.e., (KVAALKE)₄;. KVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKE; SEQ ID NO: 40) or an E coil domain (i.e., (EVAALEK)₄; EVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEK; SEQ ID NO: 39).

In a preferred embodiment, a negatively charged, “E-coil” will be appended to one of the polypeptides being used to form the bispecific diabody and a positively charged “K-coil” will be appended to the second of the diabody's polypeptides.

Preferably, the first polypeptide chain of such a diabody has the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:50) (CDRs are underlined):

QAVVTQEPSL TVSPGGTVTL TC RSSTGAVT   TSNYAN WVQQ KPGQAPRGLI GG TNKRAP WT PARFSGSLLG GKAALTITGA QAEDEADYYC  ALWYSNLWV F GGGTKLTVLG GGGSGGGGQV TLRESGPALV KPTQTLTLTC TFSGFSLSTS  GMSVG WIRQP PGKALEWLAD  IWWDDKKDYN   PSLKS RLTIS KDTSKNQVVL KVTNMDPADT ATYYCAR SMI   TNWYFDV WGA GTTVTVSSGG CGGGEVAALE KEVAALEKEV AALEKEVAAL EK wherein residues 1-110 are the light chain variable domain of anti-CD3 Antibody 2 (CDR residues are shown in underline), residues 111-118 are the linker GGGSGGGG (SEQ ID NO:27), residues 119-238 are the heavy chain variable domain of the anti-RSV F Protein antibody, Palivizumab (CDR residues are shown in underline), residues 239-244 are the linker GGCGGG (SEQ ID NO:38) and residues 245-272 are the E coil (EVAALEK)₄ [i.e. (SEQ ID NO:39) EVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEK].

Preferably, the second polypeptide chain of such a diabody has the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:51) (CDRs are underlined):

DIQMTQSPST LSASVGDRVT ITC RASQSVG   YMH WYQQKPG KAPKLLIY DT   SKLAS GVPSR FSGSGSGTEF TLTISSLQPD DFATYYCF QG   SGYPFT FGGG TKLEIKGGGS GGGGEVQLVE SGGGLVQPGG SLRLSCAASG FTFS TYAMN W VRQAPGKGLE WVG RIRSKYN   NYATYYADSV   KG RFTISRDD SKNSLYLQMN SLKTEDTAVY YCVR HGNFGN   SYVSWFAY WG QGTLVTVSSG GCGGGKVAAL KEKVAALKEK VAALKEKVAA LKE wherein residues 1-106 are the light chain variable domain of the anti-RSV F Protein antibody, Palivizumab (CDRs are shown underlined), residues 107-114 are the linker GGGSGGGG (SEQ ID NO:27), residues 115-239 are the heavy chain variable domain of humanized anti-CD3 Antibody 2 (“hAntibody 2;” CDRs are shown underlined), residues 240-245 are the linker GGCGGG (SEQ ID NO:38) and residues 246-273 are the K coil (KVAALKE)₄ [i.e., SEQ ID NO:40) KVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKE].

Anti-Fluorescein×Anti-HIV Env Bispecific Molecule

The first polypeptide chain of the bispecific diabody preferably has:

-   (I) the variable light domain of antibody 7B2 or an antibody that     competes with antibody 7B2 for binding, or an antibody that binds to     the env protein of HIV; -   (II) the heavy chain variable domain of anti-fluorescein antibody     4-4-20 or an antibody that competes with anti-fluorescein antibody     4-4-20 for binding, or an antibody that binds to fluorescein; and

(III) an E coil domain (i.e., (EVAALEK)₄; EVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEK; SEQ ID NO: 39) or a K coil domain (i.e., (KVAALKE)₄;. KVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKE; SEQ ID NO: 40).

The second polypeptide chain of such bispecific diabody preferably has:

-   (I) the light chain variable domain of anti-fluorescein antibody     4-4-20 or such antibody that competes with antibody 4-4-20 for     binding, or such antibody that binds to fluorescein; -   (II) the variable heavy domain of such antibody 7B2 or such antibody     that competes with antibody 7B2 for binding, or such antibody that     binds to the env protein of HIV; and

(III) a K coil domain (i.e., (KVAALKE)₄;. KVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKE; SEQ ID NO: 40) or an E coil domain (i.e., (EVAALEK)₄; EVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEK; SEQ ID NO: 39).

In a preferred embodiment, a negatively charged, “E-coil” will be appended to one of the polypeptides being used to form the bispecific diabody and a positively charged “K-coil” will be appended to the second of the diabody's polypeptides.

Preferably, the first polypeptide chain of such a diabody has the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:52) (CDRs are underlined):

DIVMTQSPDS LAVSPGERAT IHC KSSQTLL   YSSNNRHSIA WYQQRPGQPP KLLLY WASMR LS GVPDRFSG SGSGTDFTLT INNLQAEDVA IYYC HQYSSH   PPT FGHGTRV EIKGGGSGGG GEVKLDETGG GLVQPGRPMK LSCVASGFTF S DYWM NWVRQ SPEKGLEWVA  QIRNKPYNYE   TYYSDSVKG R FTISRDDSKS SVYLOMNNLR VEDMGIYYCT G SYYGMDY WG QGTSVTVSSG GCGGGEVAAL EKEVAALEKE VAALEKEVAA LEK wherein residues 1-113 are the light chain variable domain of antibody 7B2 (GenBank Accession No. AFQ31503) (CDR residues are shown in underline), residues 114-121 are the linker GGGSGGGG (SEQ ID NO:27), residues 122-239 are the heavy chain variable domain of antibody 4-4-20, residues 240-245 are the linker GGCGGG (SEQ ID NO:38) and residues 246-277 are the E coil (EVAALEK)₄ [i.e. (SEQ ID NO:39) EVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEKEVAALEK].

Preferably, the second polypeptide chain of such a diabody has the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:53) (CDRs are underlined):

DVVMTQTPFS LPVSLGDQAS ISC RSSQSLV   HSNGNTYLR W YLQKPGQSPK VLIY KVSNR F   S GVPDRFSGS GSGTDFTLKI SRVEAEDLGV YFC SQSTHVP   WT FGGGTKLE IKGGGSGGGG QVQLVQSGGG VFKPGGSLRL SCEASGFTFT  EYYMT WVRQA PGKGLEWLA Y ISKNGEYSKY SPSSNG RFTI SRDNAKNSVF LQLDRLSADD TAVYYCAR AD  G LTYFSELLQ   YIFDL WGQGA RVTVSSGGCG GGKVAALKEK VAALKEKVAA LKEKVAALKE wherein residues 1-112 are the light chain variable domain of antibody 4-4-20, residues 113-120 are the linker GGGSGGGG (SEQ ID NO:27), residues 121-246 are the heavy chain variable domain of antibody 7B2 (CDR residues are shown in underline), residues 247-252 are the linker GGCGGG (SEQ ID NO:38) and residues 253-280 are the K coil (KVAALKE)₄ [i.e., SEQ ID NO:40) KVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKEKVAALKE].

Example 8 Redirected CD8-Mediated Killing of HIV Env-Expressing Cells

As a further example of the utility of the bispecific molecules of the present invention, the above-described anti-CD3×anti-HIV gp120 and anti-CD3×anti-HIV env bispecific molecules were evaluated for their ability to facilitate redirected CD8-mediated killing of HIV env-expressing cells in the presence of T cells.

The above-described anti-fluorescein×anti-HIV env and anti-CD3×anti-RSV F protein bispecific molecules were used as controls.

In one such investigation, Jurkat 522 FY (HxB2 gp160) cells were incubated in the presence of tetracycline in order to induce their expression of HIV gp160. The cells were incubated for 24 hours in the presence of pan T cells (D54670) (at an Effector: Target ratio of 10:1) and one of the above-described bispecific molecules. The cytotoxicity of the bispecific molecule was assessed. The results show that the anti-CD3×anti-HIV gp120 and the anti-CD3×anti-HIV env bispecific molecules were both able to cause CD8-mediated cytotoxicity, whereas the anti-CD3×anti-RSV F protein control diabody did not (FIG. 5 ).

In a second investigation, HEK 293 D375 cells (92Th023, subtype AE, RS-tropic) were incubated in the presence of doxycycline in order to induce their expression of HIV gp140. The cells were incubated for 24 hours in the presence of pan T cells (D47239) (at an Effector: Target ratio of 10:1) and one of the above-described bispecific molecules. The cytotoxicity of the bispecific molecule was assessed. The results show that the anti-CD3×anti-HIV gp120 and the anti-CD3×anti-HIV env bispecific molecules were both able to cause CD8-mediated cytotoxicity, whereas the anti-HIV env×anti-fluorescein control diabody did not, except under antibody-saturating conditions (FIG. 6 ).

In a third investigation, HEK 293 D371 cells (CM244, subtype AE, RS-tropic) were incubated in the presence of doxycycline in order to induce their expression of HIV gp140. The cells were incubated for 24 hours in the presence of pan T cells (D47239) (at an Effector: Target ratio of 10:1) and one of the above-described bispecific molecules. The cytotoxicity of the bispecific molecule was assessed. The results again showed that the anti-CD3×anti-HIV gp120 and the anti-CD3×anti-HIV env bispecific molecules were both able to cause CD8-mediated cytotoxicity, whereas the anti-HIV env×anti-fluorescein control diabody did not, except under antibody-saturating conditions (FIG. 7 ).

Table 1 summarizes the observed CD8-mediated cytotoxicity obtained using the anti-CD3×anti-HIV gp120 bispecific molecule or anti-CD3×anti-HIV env bispecific molecule.

TABLE 1 EC₅₀ (ng/mL) Cell Line 7B2 × CD3 A32 × CD3 Jurkat 522Fy 0.49 0.75 HEK 293 D371 0.006 0.024 HEK 293 D375 0.18 0.11

All publications and patents mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference in its entirety. While the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modifications and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth. 

1. A bispecific molecule comprising: a. a first epitope-binding domain, said first epitope-binding domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to an epitope of a protein expressed on the surface of an immune effector cell, wherein said immune effector cell expresses an activating receptor, and b. a second epitope-binding domain, said second epitope-binding domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to an epitope of an antigen expressed by a cell infected with a virus; wherein said antigen is detectably present on said cell infected by said virus at a level that is greater than the level at which said antigen is detected on said virus by said bispecific molecule.
 2. The bispecific molecule of claim 1, wherein said first epitope-binding domain binds to an activating receptor of an immune effector cell.
 3. The bispecific molecule of claim 2, wherein said effector cell is a T-cell, a CD4+ T-cell, a CD8+ T-cell, a natural killer cell, a macrophage, a granulocyte, or a dendritic cell.
 4. The bispecific molecule of claim 2, wherein said virus is EBV, HSV, CMV, HIV, HBV, HCV, HPV, or influenza virus.
 5. The bispecific molecule of claim 2, wherein said cell is latently infected with said virus.
 6. The bispecific molecule of claim 2, wherein said antigen expressed by said cell infected with said virus is selected from the group consisting of LMP-1, LMP-2, influenza virus M2 protein, HIV env protein, HPV E6 and HPV E7.
 7. The bispecific molecule of claim 2, wherein said antigen expressed by said cell infected with said virus is detectably present on said cell and is not detected on said virus by said bispecific molecule.
 8. The bispecific molecule of claim 2, wherein said epitope on said effector cell is a CD3 epitope, a CD4 epitope, a CD8 epitope, a CD2 epitope, a CD16 epitope, or an NKG2D epitope.
 9. The bispecific molecule of claim 2, wherein said first epitope binding domain is an antigen binding domain from a CD3 antibody, a CD4 antibody, a CD8 antibody, a CD2 antibody, a CD16 antibody, an NKG2D antibody.
 10. The bispecific molecule of claim 2, wherein said antigen expressed by said cell infected with said virus is detectably present on said cell at a level that is at least 2 times greater than the level at which said antigen is detected on said virus by said bispecific molecule.
 11. The bispecific molecule of claim 2, wherein said antigen expressed by said cell infected with said virus is detectably present on said cell at a level that is at least 5 times greater than the level at which said antigen is detected on said virus by said bispecific molecule.
 12. The bispecific molecule of claim 2, wherein said antigen expressed by said cell infected with said virus is detectably present on said cell at a level that is at least 10 times greater than the level at which said antigen is detected on said virus by said bispecific molecule.
 13. The bispecific molecule of claim 2, wherein said antigen expressed by said cell infected with said virus is detectably present on said cell at a level that is at least 100 times greater than the level at which said antigen is detected on said virus by said bispecific molecule.
 14. The bispecific molecule of claim 2, wherein said antigen is detectably present on said cell infected by said virus at a level that is greater than the level at which said antigen is detected on a cell that is not infected by said virus by said bispecific molecule.
 15. The bispecific molecule of claim 14, wherein said wherein said antigen is detectably present on said cell infected by said virus at a level that is at least 2 times greater than the level at which said antigen is detected on a cell that is not infected by said virus by said bispecific molecule.
 16. The bispecific molecule of claim 14, wherein said wherein said antigen is detectably present on said cell infected by said virus at a level that is at least 5 times greater than the level at which said antigen is detected on a cell that is not infected by said virus by said bispecific molecule.
 17. The bispecific molecule of claim 14, wherein said wherein said antigen is detectably present on said cell infected by said virus at a level that is at least 10 times greater than the level at which said antigen is detected on a cell that is not infected by said virus by said bispecific molecule.
 18. The bispecific molecule of claim 14, wherein said wherein said antigen is detectably present on said cell infected by said virus at a level that is at least 100×greater than the level at which said antigen is detected on a cell that is not infected by said virus by said bispecific molecule.
 19. The bispecific molecule of claim 14, wherein said antigen expressed by said cell infected with said virus is detectably present on said cell and is not detected on a cell not infected by said bispecific molecule.
 20. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a bispecific molecule and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, said bispecific molecule comprising: a. a first epitope-binding domain, said first epitope-binding domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to an epitope of a protein expressed on the surface of an immune effector cell, wherein said immune effector cell expresses an activating receptor, and b. a second epitope-binding domain, said second epitope-binding domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to an epitope of an antigen expressed by a cell infected with a virus; wherein said antigen is detectably present on said cell infected by said virus at a level that is greater than the level at which said antigen is detected on said virus by said bispecific molecule.
 21. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 20, wherein said first epitope-binding domain of said bispecific molecule binds to an activating receptor of an immune effector cell.
 22. A method of treating a latent virus infection in an individual in need of such treatment, said method comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a bispecific molecule to said individual, said bispecific molecule comprising: a. a first epitope-binding domain, said first epitope-binding domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to an epitope of a protein expressed on the surface of an immune effector cell, wherein said immune effector cell expresses an activating receptor, and b. a second epitope-binding domain, said second epitope-binding domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to an epitope of an antigen expressed by a cell infected with a virus; wherein said antigen is detectably present on said cell infected by said virus at a level that is greater than the level at which said antigen is detected on said virus by said bispecific molecule.
 23. A method of treating a persistent virus infection in an individual in need of such treatment, said method comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a bispecific molecule to said individual, said bispecific molecule comprising: a. a first epitope-binding domain, said first epitope-binding domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to an epitope of a protein expressed on the surface of an immune effector cell, wherein said immune effector cell expresses an activating receptor, and b. a second epitope-binding domain, said second epitope-binding domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to an epitope of an antigen expressed by a cell infected with a virus; wherein said antigen is detectably present on said cell infected by said virus at a level that is greater than the level at which said antigen is detected on said virus by said bispecific molecule.
 24. A method of treating an inactive virus infection in an individual in need of such treatment, said method comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a bispecific molecule to said individual, said bispecific molecule comprising: a. a first epitope-binding domain, said first epitope-binding domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to an epitope of a protein expressed on the surface of an immune effector cell, wherein said immune effector cell expresses an activating receptor, and b. a second epitope-binding domain, said second epitope-binding domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to an epitope of an antigen expressed by a cell infected with a virus; wherein said antigen is detectably present on said cell infected by said virus at a level that is greater than the level at which said antigen is detected on said virus by said bispecific molecule.
 25. A method of killing a cell containing a viral genome, said method comprises the step of contacting said cell with a bispecific molecule, said bispecific molecule comprising: a. a first epitope-binding domain, said first epitope-binding domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to an epitope of a protein expressed on the surface of an immune effector cell, wherein said immune effector cell expresses an activating receptor, and b. a second epitope-binding domain, said second epitope-binding domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to an epitope of an antigen expressed by a cell infected with a virus; wherein said antigen is detectably present on said cell infected by said virus at a level that is greater than the level at which said antigen is detected on said virus by said bispecific molecule; whereby said cell containing said viral genome is killed.
 26. A method of killing a cell expressing a viral protein, said method comprises the step of contacting said cell with a bispecific molecule, said bispecific molecule comprising: (A) a first epitope-binding domain, said first epitope-binding domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to an epitope of a protein expressed on the surface of an immune effector cell, wherein said immune effector cell expresses an activating receptor, and (B) a second epitope-binding domain, said second epitope-binding domain being capable of immunospecifically binding to an epitope of said viral protein; wherein said viral protein is detectably present on said cell expressing said viral protein at a level that is greater than the level at which said viral protein is detected on a virus capable of expressing said viral protein; whereby said cell expressing said viral protein is killed.
 27. The method of claim 22, wherein said first epitope-binding domain of said bispecific molecule binds to an activating receptor of an immune effector cell.
 28. The method of claim 22, wherein said effector cell is a T-cell, a CD4+ T-cell, a CD8+ T-cell, a natural killer cell, a macrophage, a granulocyte, or a dendritic cell.
 29. The method of claim 22, wherein said virus is EBV, HSV, CMV, HIV, HBV, HCV, HPV, or influenza virus.
 30. The method of claim 22, wherein said cell is latently infected with said virus.
 31. The method of claim 23, wherein said first epitope-binding domain of said bispecific molecule binds to an activating receptor of an immune effector cell.
 32. The method of claim 23, wherein said effector cell is a T-cell, a CD4+ T-cell, a CD8+ T-cell, a natural killer cell, a macrophage, a granulocyte, or a dendritic cell.
 33. The method of claim 23, wherein said virus is EBV, HSV, CMV, HIV, HBV, HCV, HPV, or influenza virus.
 34. The method of claim 23, wherein said cell is latently infected with said virus.
 35. The method of claim 24, wherein said first epitope-binding domain of said bispecific molecule binds to an activating receptor of an immune effector cell.
 36. The method of claim 24, wherein said effector cell is a T-cell, a CD4+ T-cell, a CD8+ T-cell, a natural killer cell, a macrophage, a granulocyte, or a dendritic cell.
 37. The method of claim 24, wherein said virus is EBV, HSV, CMV, HIV, HBV, HCV, HPV, or influenza virus.
 38. The method of claim 24, wherein said cell is latently infected with said virus. 